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 Penryn, CA 95663

Penryn: median income $155,917, home value $960,800, $540/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
North Hampton, NH 03862 90%2,605$144,583$670,400$496 cheaper homes ($290K less)
Huntsville, UT 84317 86%525$130,040$762,700$418 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($198K less) · younger residents
Byfield, MA 01922 84%2,603$142,207$804,900$375 cheaper homes ($156K less)
Rye, NH 03870 83%2,608$140,938$990,700$601 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Hampton Falls, NH 03844 82%2,603$165,509$764,900$354 cheaper homes ($196K less) · 6 min longer commute
Westhampton, NY 11977 82%2,544$151,375$1,077,200$568 pricier homes ($116K more) · older residents
East Sandwich, MA 02537 81%2,643$136,506$639,500$405 cheaper homes ($321K less) · larger
Cutchogue, NY 11935 81%2,551$143,750$915,900$684 cheaper homes ($45K less) · older residents · older homes
Southold, NY 11971 81%2,553$129,507$843,300$587 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($118K less) · larger
Carnation, WA 98014 81%608$164,306$940,600$446 larger · younger residents
Fall City, WA 98024 81%603$160,641$1,107,100$473 pricier homes ($146K more)
Girdwood, AK 99587 81%1,939$163,704$630,200$575 cheaper homes ($331K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Middleton, MA 01949 79%2,601$167,402$742,700$402 cheaper homes ($218K less) · larger · younger residents
Sagamore Beach, MA 02562 79%2,637$120,000$591,000$498 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($370K less) · more walkable
Pleasant Hill, OR 97455 79%363$118,456$759,700$331 lower income ($37K less) · cheaper homes ($201K less)
Greenland, NH 03840 78%2,603$162,837$662,800$390 cheaper homes ($298K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Salisbury, CT 06068 78%2,489$123,552$842,200$461 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($119K less) · smaller
Mattituck, NY 11952 78%2,548$120,139$764,300$531 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($197K less) · larger
Westhampton Beach, NY 11978 78%2,545$125,179$1,054,000$822 lower income ($31K less) · pricier homes ($93K more) · larger
Middleburg, VA 20117 77%2,313$146,120$937,100$395 7 min longer commute · more renters
Belleair Beach, FL 33786 77%2,318$163,125$1,053,000$593 pricier homes ($92K more) · smaller · older residents
Bow, WA 98232 77%673$104,559$782,200$529 lower income ($51K less) · cheaper homes ($179K less)
Boylston, MA 01505 76%2,569$140,962$578,600$343 cheaper homes ($382K less) · larger
Rowley, MA 01969 76%2,605$132,734$667,300$375 cheaper homes ($294K less) · larger
Farmingdale, NJ 07727 76%2,477$129,931$652,400$365 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($308K less) · 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.