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 Swampscott, MA 01907

Swampscott: median income $134,386, home value $771,100, $441/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Alexandria, VA 22307 92%412$141,667$778,900$425 Very close on everything we compare
Leonia, NJ 07605 91%194$129,219$672,900$469 cheaper homes ($98K less) · smaller
Mineola, NY 11501 91%185$137,665$655,500$522 cheaper homes ($116K less)
Mount Kisco, NY 10549 90%170$133,988$668,000$425 cheaper homes ($103K less) · newer homes
White Plains, NY 10605 90%178$148,982$787,500$459 6 min shorter commute
Washington, DC 20012 90%401$121,418$863,900$421 pricier homes ($93K more)
Verona, NJ 07044 89%206$161,843$608,400$432 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($163K less)
Eastchester, NY 10709 89%183$170,417$847,900$497 higher income ($36K more) · pricier homes ($77K more)
Cedar Grove, NJ 07009 88%205$151,625$633,900$422 cheaper homes ($137K less)
Rutherford, NJ 07070 88%201$143,153$603,600$489 cheaper homes ($168K less)
Rockville Centre, NY 11570 88%189$157,163$809,200$536 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger
Wood Ridge, NJ 07075 87%199$136,108$566,200$418 cheaper homes ($205K less)
River Edge, NJ 07661 86%194$159,028$660,300$499 cheaper homes ($111K less) · more single-family homes
Croton On Hudson, NY 10520 86%176$142,791$702,200$444 cheaper homes ($69K less) · 6 min longer commute
Springfield, NJ 07081 85%215$155,906$636,600$401 cheaper homes ($135K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Metuchen, NJ 08840 85%222$146,635$560,100$466 cheaper homes ($211K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Tuckahoe, NY 10707 85%183$130,957$773,200$493 smaller · more renters
Nutley, NJ 07110 84%203$119,646$517,500$421 cheaper homes ($254K less) · larger
Great Neck, NY 11021 84%186$120,230$662,000$534 cheaper homes ($109K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Silver Spring, MD 20901 84%398$131,386$589,800$337 cheaper homes ($181K less) · larger · younger residents
Stamford, CT 06905 83%166$136,757$618,400$413 cheaper homes ($153K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more renters
Cranford, NJ 07016 83%216$155,972$660,100$469 cheaper homes ($111K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004 83%282$149,232$632,000$327 cheaper homes ($139K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Seattle, WA 98136 83%2,492$149,269$925,000$544 pricier homes ($154K more)
Red Bank, NJ 07701 82%219$112,143$584,500$472 cheaper homes ($187K 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.