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.

Reset

Towns most like Byfield, MA 01922

Byfield: median income $142,207, home value $804,900, $375/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rowley, MA 01969 89%3$132,734$667,300$375 cheaper homes ($138K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
North Hampton, NH 03862 88%16$144,583$670,400$496 cheaper homes ($135K less)
Boylston, MA 01505 87%50$140,962$578,600$343 cheaper homes ($226K less)
Reno, NV 89519 86%2,521$155,288$932,900$368 pricier homes ($128K more) · larger
Portland, OR 97231 85%2,533$137,527$858,200$268 pricier homes ($53K more) · more single-family homes
Greenland, NH 03840 84%20$162,837$662,800$390 cheaper homes ($142K less) · more homeowners
Penryn, CA 95663 84%2,603$155,917$960,800$540 pricier homes ($156K more)
Lyme, NH 03768 83%94$133,906$645,000$357 cheaper homes ($160K less) · smaller
York, ME 03909 82%31$115,608$638,400$414 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($167K less) · larger
Middleburg, VA 20117 82%441$146,120$937,100$395 pricier homes ($132K more) · 10 min longer commute
Salisbury, CT 06068 81%137$123,552$842,200$461 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller · younger residents
Kitty Hawk, NC 27949 81%528$120,662$677,600$403 cheaper homes ($127K less) · larger · more walkable
Chugiak, AK 99567 81%3,333$147,319$471,300$278 cheaper homes ($334K less) · larger
Girdwood, AK 99587 81%3,331$163,704$630,200$575 cheaper homes ($175K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
East Sandwich, MA 02537 80%75$136,506$639,500$405 cheaper homes ($165K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Rexford, NY 12148 80%149$141,984$427,400$309 cheaper homes ($378K less)
Delafield, WI 53018 80%882$124,595$521,400$284 cheaper homes ($284K less) · larger · younger residents
Long Lake, MN 55356 80%1,135$156,622$707,800$295 cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger · younger residents
Newcastle, CA 95658 80%2,600$126,581$837,700$450 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · more homeowners
Charlotte, VT 05445 79%157$144,375$695,300$377 cheaper homes ($110K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Fairfield, NJ 07004 79%216$115,980$688,500$393 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($116K less) · larger
Farmingdale, NJ 07727 79%243$129,931$652,400$365 cheaper homes ($153K less) · larger · younger residents
Northbridge, MA 01534 78%56$141,250$481,200$265 cheaper homes ($324K less) · larger · younger residents
Millis, MA 02054 78%46$155,996$603,500$369 cheaper homes ($201K less) · larger · younger residents
Rye, NH 03870 78%19$140,938$990,700$601 pricier homes ($186K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute

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.

From OfferBacked · Free

Get matched with a local agent.

Buying or selling around Columbus, OH? Tell us what you need and when. No agents advertise here yet, so we’ll keep your request for up to 30 days and send it to local agents who join. No obligation, and you choose who to work with.

Get matched