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 Phoenix, MD 21131

Phoenix: median income $197,619, home value $686,000, $226/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Califon, NJ 07830 91%126$180,852$656,400$297 cheaper homes ($30K less)
New Haven, CT 06525 90%230$188,750$588,100$261 cheaper homes ($98K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Richboro, PA 18954 89%98$159,857$626,700$265 lower income ($38K less) · cheaper homes ($59K less)
Pittstown, NJ 08867 88%115$204,583$601,600$276 cheaper homes ($84K less)
Boxford, MA 01921 87%364$200,672$904,200$357 pricier homes ($218K more)
Easton, CT 06612 87%212$222,604$783,100$323 pricier homes ($97K more)
Glencoe, MO 63038 87%758$186,450$580,800$193 cheaper homes ($105K less) · newer homes
South Glastonbury, CT 06073 85%258$201,477$560,900$270 cheaper homes ($125K less) · younger residents
Redding, CT 06896 85%208$186,060$706,300$335 6 min longer commute
South Salem, NY 10590 84%201$211,734$795,600$409 pricier homes ($110K more)
West Newbury, MA 01985 82%370$179,500$808,200$387 pricier homes ($122K more) · smaller
Hollis, NH 03049 82%344$168,883$675,900$286 lower income ($29K less)
Madison, CT 06443 82%244$168,462$584,900$344 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($101K less) · larger
Chester, NJ 07930 82%135$240,954$771,200$361 higher income ($43K more) · pricier homes ($85K more)
Germantown, TN 38139 82%785$178,661$575,500$185 cheaper homes ($111K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Franklin, MI 48025 82%406$185,000$544,500$246 cheaper homes ($142K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Wayne, IL 60184 82%634$163,750$642,700$239 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller
Harvard, MA 01451 81%334$214,792$856,200$349 pricier homes ($170K more) · younger residents
Towaco, NJ 07082 81%154$205,023$702,900$410 6 min longer commute
Long Valley, NJ 07853 81%131$175,792$605,000$302 cheaper homes ($81K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Ringoes, NJ 08551 81%114$162,617$595,800$314 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($90K less) · more renters
Amherst, NH 03031 80%348$153,125$537,300$289 lower income ($44K less) · cheaper homes ($149K less) · larger
West Simsbury, CT 06092 80%255$204,458$486,900$254 cheaper homes ($199K less) · smaller · younger residents
Stockton, NJ 08559 80%108$179,600$560,600$345 cheaper homes ($125K less) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Washington Crossing, PA 18977 79%106$211,719$736,200$324 pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller · older residents

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.