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 Stoneham, MA 02180

Stoneham: median income $113,964, home value $671,900, $437/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Danvers, MA 01923 95%10$125,395$644,200$428 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Dedham, MA 02026 93%17$128,955$661,800$448 Very close on everything we compare
Red Bank, NJ 07701 93%213$112,143$584,500$472 cheaper homes ($87K less) · 6 min longer commute
Waltham, MA 02451 92%10$122,335$753,000$487 pricier homes ($81K more)
Norwalk, CT 06851 92%151$111,341$587,400$407 cheaper homes ($85K less)
Wakefield, MA 01880 91%2$134,306$723,500$468 pricier homes ($52K more) · 5 min longer commute
Stamford, CT 06905 91%159$136,757$618,400$413 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Seattle, WA 98166 91%2,483$114,969$824,400$420 pricier homes ($153K more)
Belmar, NJ 07719 90%222$119,828$700,900$488 pricier homes ($29K more) · older residents
Nanuet, NY 10954 90%178$116,332$533,000$383 cheaper homes ($139K less)
San Pedro, CA 90732 90%2,602$120,807$857,000$483 pricier homes ($185K more)
Seattle, WA 98155 90%2,477$131,540$816,400$460 pricier homes ($145K more) · larger
Amesbury, MA 01913 89%27$103,554$519,300$385 cheaper homes ($153K less)
Beverly, MA 01915 89%13$104,918$649,700$475 larger
Bristol, RI 02809 89%56$97,764$485,000$387 cheaper homes ($187K less)
Nutley, NJ 07110 89%195$119,646$517,500$421 cheaper homes ($154K less)
Hawthorne, NJ 07506 89%190$110,237$533,700$383 cheaper homes ($138K less)
Somerville, NJ 08876 89%227$122,884$485,100$359 cheaper homes ($187K less)
Falls Church, VA 22042 89%406$138,255$715,800$426 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · younger residents
Tacoma, WA 98407 89%2,492$110,288$656,600$414 Very close on everything we compare
Valhalla, NY 10595 88%168$123,438$723,100$451 pricier homes ($51K more) · smaller
Media, PA 19063 88%285$127,368$548,900$303 cheaper homes ($123K less) · larger
Annapolis, MD 21403 88%373$123,329$582,500$366 cheaper homes ($89K less) · newer homes
Annandale, VA 22003 88%408$138,794$732,400$338 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger
Chatsworth, CA 91311 88%2,600$119,386$876,400$464 pricier homes ($205K more) · 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