OfferBackedBuyer Tools
Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like Alden, NY 14004

Alden: median income $90,839, home value $258,300, $224/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Stafford Springs, CT 06076 95%324$92,016$267,300$219 Very close on everything we compare
Elmer, NJ 08318 93%289$92,558$302,000$198 pricier homes ($44K more)
Brooklyn, CT 06234 92%344$96,207$315,200$243 pricier homes ($57K more) · newer homes
Uncasville, CT 06382 92%343$89,635$267,800$257 Very close on everything we compare
Terryville, CT 06786 92%294$87,306$265,300$233 Very close on everything we compare
Wrightsville, PA 17368 92%226$92,694$223,500$187 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
Bath, PA 18014 92%218$82,027$288,700$223 pricier homes ($30K more) · newer homes
Hartville, OH 44632 92%196$91,061$267,500$199 Very close on everything we compare
Butler, PA 16002 91%158$90,305$263,100$188 Very close on everything we compare
Biglerville, PA 17307 91%215$88,571$258,200$171 smaller
Spring Grove, PA 17362 91%227$98,702$292,100$179 pricier homes ($34K more) · newer homes
Fleetwood, PA 19522 91%220$97,507$279,300$204 newer homes
Robesonia, PA 19551 91%215$90,504$264,200$183 smaller
Mogadore, OH 44260 91%194$82,444$210,200$182 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Goshen, OH 45122 91%386$83,342$222,100$214 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Milan, MI 48160 91%268$103,453$265,300$209 Very close on everything we compare
Rockwood, MI 48173 91%245$94,094$244,900$165 newer homes
Saint Johns, MI 48879 91%306$79,129$229,100$177 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Jefferson, WI 53549 91%520$80,101$262,200$207 more renters
Milton, WI 53563 91%528$89,528$293,800$229 pricier homes ($36K more) · newer homes
Omro, WI 54963 91%518$86,227$238,200$233 smaller · newer homes
Two Harbors, MN 55616 91%703$76,127$259,200$170 smaller
Jaffrey, NH 03452 90%329$92,330$245,500$265 smaller
Swanton, VT 05488 90%303$77,154$288,700$225 pricier homes ($30K more)
Dayville, CT 06241 90%347$88,389$298,200$234 pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller · newer homes

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.