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 Ipswich, MA 01938

Ipswich: median income $138,750, home value $745,400, $421/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Maynard, MA 01754 90%35$124,067$527,400$328 cheaper homes ($218K less)
Port Jefferson, NY 11777 90%165$150,505$680,200$382 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Burlington, MA 01803 88%21$146,436$740,600$441 larger · more walkable
Rowley, MA 01969 88%4$132,734$667,300$375 cheaper homes ($78K less) · smaller
Foxboro, MA 02035 88%47$115,833$606,300$366 cheaper homes ($139K less) · newer homes
Millis, MA 02054 88%44$155,996$603,500$369 cheaper homes ($142K less) · smaller
North Easton, MA 02356 87%45$127,224$650,300$348 cheaper homes ($95K less) · newer homes
Caldwell, NJ 07006 87%217$149,102$694,400$434 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger · younger residents
Lambertville, NJ 08530 87%264$120,467$574,800$392 cheaper homes ($171K less) · smaller · older residents
Chelmsford, MA 01824 86%26$140,050$619,700$384 cheaper homes ($126K less) · larger · younger residents
Morris Plains, NJ 07950 86%226$153,762$589,900$398 cheaper homes ($156K less) · larger · more walkable
Sayville, NY 11782 86%177$147,672$637,300$507 cheaper homes ($108K less) · more single-family homes
Framingham, MA 01701 85%39$137,094$644,300$395 cheaper homes ($101K less) · larger · more single-family homes
North Reading, MA 01864 85%14$147,768$710,500$425 cheaper homes ($35K less)
East Greenwich, RI 02818 85%78$139,217$613,500$342 cheaper homes ($132K less)
Valley Cottage, NY 10989 85%192$134,267$549,700$390 cheaper homes ($196K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Oyster Bay, NY 11771 85%186$157,923$936,300$484 pricier homes ($191K more) · younger residents
Reading, MA 01867 84%17$165,912$809,000$473 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($64K more) · larger
Dedham, MA 02026 84%34$128,955$661,800$448 cheaper homes ($84K less) · larger · more walkable
Congers, NY 10920 84%191$145,567$582,800$375 cheaper homes ($163K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Pearl River, NY 10965 84%198$132,660$596,700$395 cheaper homes ($149K less) · younger residents
Santa Rosa, CA 95405 84%2,693$118,299$788,000$455 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger
Natick, MA 01760 83%38$138,563$821,300$454 pricier homes ($76K more) · larger
Danvers, MA 01923 83%9$125,395$644,200$428 cheaper homes ($101K less) · larger · more walkable
North Kingstown, RI 02852 83%82$118,643$504,900$332 cheaper homes ($241K 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.

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