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 Clifton, VA 20124

Clifton: median income $221,060, home value $884,800, $300/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Southborough, MA 01772 92%391$201,568$841,700$354 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Warren, NJ 07059 91%199$212,479$921,500$440 pricier homes ($37K more)
Chester, NJ 07930 91%200$240,954$771,200$361 cheaper homes ($114K less) · smaller
Groton, MA 01450 90%404$193,292$743,400$325 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($141K less) · younger residents
Clarksville, MD 21029 90%38$243,542$912,100$285 pricier homes ($27K more)
Lake Forest, IL 60045 90%599$233,125$923,500$404 pricier homes ($39K more)
Boxford, MA 01921 89%428$200,672$904,200$357 smaller
Westford, MA 01886 88%407$187,198$748,500$371 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($136K less) · larger
Hopkinton, MA 01748 87%388$222,801$802,700$357 cheaper homes ($82K less) · younger residents
Brookeville, MD 20833 87%33$204,375$797,100$284 cheaper homes ($88K less) · smaller
Colts Neck, NJ 07722 86%200$198,994$917,200$474 pricier homes ($32K more)
Belle Mead, NJ 08502 86%185$227,242$816,700$384 cheaper homes ($68K less) · younger residents
Harvard, MA 01451 85%398$214,792$856,200$349 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · younger residents
Sudbury, MA 01776 85%399$236,509$988,900$409 pricier homes ($104K more) · younger residents · older homes
Duxbury, MA 02332 85%417$176,583$874,600$459 lower income ($44K less) · older homes
Ellicott City, MD 21042 85%44$190,061$706,400$274 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($178K less) · larger
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33332 85%896$172,730$909,000$395 lower income ($48K less)
Austin, TX 78733 85%1,300$206,368$1,008,600$407 pricier homes ($124K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Medfield, MA 02052 84%396$235,800$911,100$416 pricier homes ($26K more) · younger residents · older homes
Easton, CT 06612 84%276$222,604$783,100$323 cheaper homes ($102K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
South Salem, NY 10590 84%266$211,734$795,600$409 cheaper homes ($89K less) · smaller · older homes
Stow, MA 01775 83%398$185,809$729,600$339 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($155K less) · smaller
Windham, NH 03087 83%422$189,583$723,300$322 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($162K less) · younger residents
Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417 83%228$236,023$1,265,000$456 pricier homes ($380K more)
Saddle River, NJ 07458 83%234$244,022$1,188,500$501 pricier homes ($304K more)

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.