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 Wakefield, MA 01880

Wakefield: median income $134,306, home value $723,500, $468/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
West Orange, NJ 07052 93%203$129,475$556,800$394 cheaper homes ($167K less) · larger
Silver Spring, MD 20901 91%393$131,386$589,800$337 cheaper homes ($134K less)
Caldwell, NJ 07006 90%201$149,102$694,400$434 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Red Bank, NJ 07701 90%215$112,143$584,500$472 cheaper homes ($139K less)
Stamford, CT 06905 89%161$136,757$618,400$413 cheaper homes ($105K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Rutherford, NJ 07070 89%195$143,153$603,600$489 cheaper homes ($120K less)
Mount Kisco, NY 10549 89%164$133,988$668,000$425 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller · newer homes
Nutley, NJ 07110 88%197$119,646$517,500$421 cheaper homes ($206K less)
Washington, DC 20012 88%396$121,418$863,900$421 pricier homes ($140K more) · smaller
Falls Church, VA 22042 88%407$138,255$715,800$426 younger residents
Alexandria, VA 22307 88%406$141,667$778,900$425 pricier homes ($55K more) · smaller
Leonia, NJ 07605 87%188$129,219$672,900$469 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller
Nyack, NY 10960 87%176$125,789$681,000$440 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller · more renters
Fairfield, CT 06825 86%144$135,504$630,600$395 cheaper homes ($93K less) · more single-family homes
Cedar Grove, NJ 07009 86%199$151,625$633,900$422 cheaper homes ($90K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Wood Ridge, NJ 07075 86%193$136,108$566,200$418 cheaper homes ($157K less) · smaller
Springfield, NJ 07081 86%209$155,906$636,600$401 cheaper homes ($87K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Morris Plains, NJ 07950 86%210$153,762$589,900$398 cheaper homes ($134K less) · newer homes
Metuchen, NJ 08840 86%217$146,635$560,100$466 cheaper homes ($163K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
White Plains, NY 10605 86%172$148,982$787,500$459 pricier homes ($64K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Mineola, NY 11501 86%180$137,665$655,500$522 cheaper homes ($68K less) · more walkable
Cranford, NJ 07016 85%210$155,972$660,100$469 cheaper homes ($63K less) · more single-family homes
Verona, NJ 07044 85%200$161,843$608,400$432 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($115K less) · smaller
Mamaroneck, NY 10543 85%174$126,417$729,600$560 more renters
Ramsey, NJ 07446 84%187$160,996$697,300$450 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller

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.