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 Novelty, OH 44072

Novelty: median income $107,146, home value $355,400, $206/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bolton, CT 06043 91%460$126,364$367,600$257 Very close on everything we compare
Cazenovia, NY 13035 91%299$109,394$296,700$208 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
Barkhamsted, CT 06063 90%435$121,705$373,100$231 smaller
East Granby, CT 06026 89%444$119,375$388,000$233 pricier homes ($33K more) · younger residents
Rock Hill, NY 12775 89%349$112,600$398,400$228 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller
Pomfret Center, CT 06259 88%483$108,476$401,700$267 pricier homes ($46K more)
Elma, NY 14059 88%167$113,555$346,500$252 larger
Shavertown, PA 18708 88%278$98,545$264,800$167 cheaper homes ($91K less) · larger
Wales, WI 53183 88%375$108,827$398,700$207 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller · younger residents
Williamsburg, MA 01096 87%444$104,375$374,900$248 smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Granby, CT 06035 87%441$107,957$350,500$221 more apartments and townhomes
Coventry, CT 06238 87%465$108,213$330,000$244 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger
North Stonington, CT 06359 87%490$123,938$397,100$305 pricier homes ($42K more)
Averill Park, NY 12018 87%407$126,620$345,200$235 Very close on everything we compare
Hurley, NY 12443 87%376$104,412$375,300$285 smaller
Lakeland, MN 55043 87%623$102,966$383,500$227 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller · more walkable
El Paso, TX 79922 87%1,542$106,003$350,200$183 more walkable
Dublin, NH 03444 86%485$104,773$429,600$219 pricier homes ($74K more) · smaller
East Chatham, NY 12060 86%408$101,548$399,400$231 pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller · older residents
Voorheesville, NY 12186 86%387$112,446$360,000$232 more apartments and townhomes
Westminster, MA 01473 85%489$106,331$422,000$302 pricier homes ($67K more) · larger
Ghent, NY 12075 85%399$98,047$422,900$253 pricier homes ($68K more) · smaller
Dalton, PA 18414 85%291$93,065$288,500$194 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Schoolcraft, MI 49087 85%228$106,250$305,900$181 cheaper homes ($50K less) · younger residents
New Berlin, WI 53146 85%364$110,035$346,100$254 Very close on everything we compare

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.