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 Reading, MA 01867

Reading: median income $165,912, home value $809,000, $473/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Westwood, NJ 07675 96%182$183,154$719,400$453 cheaper homes ($90K less)
Scotch Plains, NJ 07076 95%213$183,655$718,200$475 cheaper homes ($91K less)
Ramsey, NJ 07446 93%186$160,996$697,300$450 cheaper homes ($112K less) · smaller
Framingham, MA 01701 91%23$137,094$644,300$395 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($165K less)
Andover, MA 01810 91%9$172,606$855,600$412 pricier homes ($47K more) · newer homes
Lynnfield, MA 01940 91%4$173,214$905,400$418 pricier homes ($96K more) · smaller
Oyster Bay, NY 11771 91%170$157,923$936,300$484 pricier homes ($127K more) · smaller
Caldwell, NJ 07006 90%200$149,102$694,400$434 cheaper homes ($115K less)
Denville, NJ 07834 90%208$156,902$555,600$418 cheaper homes ($253K less)
Fairfield, CT 06825 89%143$135,504$630,600$395 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($178K less)
Cranford, NJ 07016 89%210$155,972$660,100$469 cheaper homes ($149K less) · more walkable
Sayville, NY 11782 89%160$147,672$637,300$507 cheaper homes ($172K less) · smaller
Burlington, MA 01803 88%5$146,436$740,600$441 cheaper homes ($68K less) · newer homes
Fairfield, CT 06824 88%145$193,300$869,100$526 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($60K more) · younger residents
Ridgefield, CT 06877 88%149$179,219$836,200$399 pricier homes ($27K more) · newer homes
New Providence, NJ 07974 88%212$172,894$758,400$549 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller · more walkable
East Setauket, NY 11733 88%151$173,281$683,400$408 cheaper homes ($126K less) · more single-family homes
Holliston, MA 01746 87%28$159,817$650,300$360 cheaper homes ($159K less) · smaller
Chelmsford, MA 01824 87%13$140,050$619,700$384 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($189K less)
Walpole, MA 02081 87%28$156,250$687,500$396 cheaper homes ($122K less) · newer homes
Pleasantville, NY 10570 87%168$183,833$862,300$470 pricier homes ($53K more) · smaller · younger residents
Park Ridge, NJ 07656 86%183$171,029$706,200$429 cheaper homes ($103K less) · smaller
Randolph, NJ 07869 86%213$169,497$665,700$351 cheaper homes ($143K less) · newer homes
Port Jefferson, NY 11777 86%149$150,505$680,200$382 cheaper homes ($129K less) · smaller · newer homes
Cedar Grove, NJ 07009 85%198$151,625$633,900$422 cheaper homes ($175K less) · smaller · more walkable

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.

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