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 Jefferson, MD 21755

Jefferson: median income $137,417, home value $529,600, $241/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mendon, MA 01756 93%366$132,256$616,000$314 pricier homes ($86K more)
Deerfield, NH 03037 93%418$130,371$424,000$293 cheaper homes ($106K less)
Hebron, CT 06248 93%314$134,435$376,200$239 cheaper homes ($153K less)
Woodstock, CT 06281 93%341$125,778$428,800$261 cheaper homes ($101K less)
Douglas, MA 01516 92%356$153,172$467,000$291 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger
Sutton, MA 01590 92%358$147,015$523,100$276 larger
Assonet, MA 02702 92%379$153,038$516,100$293 older homes
Salem, CT 06420 92%314$123,425$405,800$245 cheaper homes ($124K less)
Oxford, CT 06478 92%272$128,953$472,400$285 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger
Cream Ridge, NJ 08514 92%172$134,038$580,900$325 pricier homes ($51K more)
Scandia, MN 55073 92%879$128,723$462,400$249 cheaper homes ($67K less)
West Greenwich, RI 02817 91%347$135,625$535,400$274 Very close on everything we compare
West Kingston, RI 02892 91%345$135,809$490,600$269 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Brimfield, MA 01010 90%339$111,250$389,100$247 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($141K less) · smaller
Rutland, MA 01543 90%359$145,707$462,800$286 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Chester, NH 03036 90%411$142,212$552,300$298 Very close on everything we compare
Litchfield, NH 03052 90%398$162,036$485,000$337 cheaper homes ($45K less)
New Boston, NH 03070 90%393$154,000$480,300$284 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Newton, NH 03858 90%416$138,487$459,500$290 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Landenberg, PA 19350 90%98$144,375$533,000$212 larger
Maidens, VA 23102 90%115$126,635$510,200$272 smaller
Valley City, OH 44280 90%265$130,167$386,000$204 cheaper homes ($144K less)
Loretto, MN 55357 90%913$152,500$530,200$245 smaller
Elburn, IL 60119 90%598$130,722$402,300$215 cheaper homes ($127K less) · larger
Pelham, NH 03076 89%399$135,956$552,600$312 larger

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.