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 Newtown, PA 18940

Newtown: median income $157,414, home value $655,000, $316/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hillsborough, NJ 08844 93%23$153,556$547,700$340 cheaper homes ($107K less) · larger
Franklin, MA 02038 92%224$145,773$611,700$343 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Bridgewater, NJ 08807 92%28$168,696$591,200$369 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Flemington, NJ 08822 91%19$137,788$536,900$310 cheaper homes ($118K less)
Melville, NY 11747 89%89$159,540$757,800$486 pricier homes ($103K more)
Springfield, VA 22153 89%161$174,228$693,600$344 pricier homes ($39K more) · younger residents
Walpole, MA 02081 88%232$156,250$687,500$396 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Chantilly, VA 20151 88%163$158,271$676,800$317 Very close on everything we compare
Olney, MD 20832 88%136$168,524$627,000$290 cheaper homes ($28K less) · more walkable
Alexandria, VA 22310 88%154$166,061$659,700$355 younger residents · more walkable
Northborough, MA 01532 87%223$153,199$620,000$331 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Northbrook, IL 60062 87%682$143,323$632,500$312 Very close on everything we compare
Mahwah, NJ 07430 86%69$131,327$606,000$427 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($49K less)
Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 86%35$192,857$799,900$439 higher income ($35K more) · pricier homes ($145K more)
Derwood, MD 20855 86%140$149,110$640,300$297 smaller
Burke, VA 22015 86%160$172,563$696,500$346 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger · younger residents
Naperville, IL 60540 86%695$157,102$550,600$292 cheaper homes ($104K less)
Shrewsbury, MA 01545 85%218$139,302$592,300$353 cheaper homes ($63K less) · younger residents · more renters
Canton, MA 02021 85%238$143,381$710,600$425 pricier homes ($56K more) · more renters
Montville, NJ 07045 85%54$185,078$669,400$358 higher income ($28K more) · smaller
Morris Plains, NJ 07950 85%47$153,762$589,900$398 cheaper homes ($65K less) · older homes
Annapolis, MD 21409 85%115$147,151$535,500$286 cheaper homes ($120K less) · more single-family homes
Springfield, VA 22152 85%159$165,906$648,200$327 younger residents · older homes
Roswell, GA 30075 85%673$157,335$611,500$244 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Ashland, MA 01721 84%228$127,539$611,700$353 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller

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.