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 Belle Mead, NJ 08502

Belle Mead: median income $227,242, home value $816,700, $384/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hopkinton, MA 01748 97%203$222,801$802,700$357 larger
Groton, MA 01450 90%219$193,292$743,400$325 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($73K less)
Skillman, NJ 08558 89%3$236,016$910,200$383 pricier homes ($94K more) · smaller · older residents
Southborough, MA 01772 87%206$201,568$841,700$354 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($25K more)
Westford, MA 01886 86%222$187,198$748,500$371 lower income ($40K less) · cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger
Warren, NJ 07059 86%15$212,479$921,500$440 pricier homes ($105K more)
Princeton Junction, NJ 08550 86%13$224,213$807,200$398 larger · 7 min longer commute
Clifton, VA 20124 86%185$221,060$884,800$300 pricier homes ($68K more) · older residents
Sudbury, MA 01776 85%214$236,509$988,900$409 pricier homes ($172K more) · larger · older homes
Neshanic Station, NJ 08853 85%7$220,725$773,400$323 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller · older residents
Clarksville, MD 21029 84%149$243,542$912,100$285 pricier homes ($95K more)
Bolton, MA 01740 83%209$205,449$796,000$309 smaller · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Stow, MA 01775 83%213$185,809$729,600$339 lower income ($41K less) · cheaper homes ($87K less) · smaller
Furlong, PA 18925 83%24$207,609$730,000$248 cheaper homes ($87K less) · smaller
Medfield, MA 02052 82%211$235,800$911,100$416 pricier homes ($94K more) · older homes
Saddle River, NJ 07458 82%50$244,022$1,188,500$501 pricier homes ($372K more) · older homes
Morganville, NJ 07751 82%21$181,205$715,600$381 lower income ($46K less) · cheaper homes ($101K less) · larger
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33332 82%1,048$172,730$909,000$395 lower income ($55K less) · pricier homes ($92K more)
Lake Forest, IL 60045 82%695$233,125$923,500$404 pricier homes ($107K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Grafton, MA 01519 81%196$178,263$631,600$320 lower income ($49K less) · cheaper homes ($185K less)
Wilton, CT 06897 81%82$242,199$928,800$449 pricier homes ($112K more) · larger · older homes
Chester, NJ 07930 81%24$240,954$771,200$361 cheaper homes ($46K less) · 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Harvard, MA 01451 80%213$214,792$856,200$349 pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller · older homes
Sharon, MA 02067 80%214$192,314$736,100$381 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($81K less) · larger
Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417 80%45$236,023$1,265,000$456 pricier homes ($448K more)

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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