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 Wayland, MA 01778

Wayland: median income $219,375, home value $977,300, $443/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07677 93%167$213,981$946,400$468 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Wilton, CT 06897 92%133$242,199$928,800$449 cheaper homes ($49K less) · 5 min longer commute
Lake Forest, IL 60045 92%841$233,125$923,500$404 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · newer homes
Berwyn, PA 19312 90%266$204,384$855,000$376 cheaper homes ($122K less)
Ridgefield, CT 06877 88%132$179,219$836,200$399 lower income ($40K less) · cheaper homes ($141K less) · larger
Wyckoff, NJ 07481 88%172$203,988$925,700$502 cheaper homes ($52K less) · more walkable
Saddle River, NJ 07458 87%168$244,022$1,188,500$501 pricier homes ($211K more) · newer homes
Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922 86%197$202,944$785,300$504 cheaper homes ($192K less) · 7 min longer commute
South Salem, NY 10590 86%135$211,734$795,600$409 cheaper homes ($182K less) · smaller
Bernardsville, NJ 07924 85%201$236,042$785,100$472 cheaper homes ($192K less) · smaller
Fairfield, CT 06824 84%128$193,300$869,100$526 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger
Chatham, NJ 07928 83%193$220,982$1,024,100$676 pricier homes ($47K more) · younger residents
Alexandria, VA 22308 83%390$212,545$914,400$420 cheaper homes ($63K less) · more single-family homes · more walkable
Western Springs, IL 60558 83%848$230,255$739,400$373 cheaper homes ($238K less) · more walkable
Easton, CT 06612 81%125$222,604$783,100$323 cheaper homes ($194K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Warren, NJ 07059 81%202$212,479$921,500$440 cheaper homes ($56K less) · newer homes
Towaco, NJ 07082 81%183$205,023$702,900$410 cheaper homes ($274K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Chester, NJ 07930 81%203$240,954$771,200$361 cheaper homes ($206K less) · smaller · newer homes
Hinsdale, IL 60521 81%849$249,200$1,032,800$405 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($56K more) · more walkable
Harrington Park, NJ 07640 80%165$180,500$776,900$433 lower income ($39K less) · cheaper homes ($200K less) · smaller
Lincroft, NJ 07738 80%200$189,000$807,300$470 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($170K less) · smaller
Mendham, NJ 07945 80%200$250,000+*$931,100$389 higher income ($31K more) · cheaper homes ($46K less) · 9 min longer commute
Armonk, NY 10504 80%147$250,000+*$1,243,100$531 higher income ($31K more) · pricier homes ($266K more) · smaller
Glen Head, NY 11545 80%157$182,528$1,101,100$601 lower income ($37K less) · pricier homes ($124K more) · more walkable
Old Bethpage, NY 11804 80%154$190,469$848,500$534 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($129K less) · smaller

* The Census Bureau doesn’t publish exact figures above $250,000 for household income, $2,000,000 for home values or $3,500 for monthly rent; it reports them as “or 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.