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 Salem, MA 01970

Salem: median income $85,041, home value $542,900, $418/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Rochelle, NY 10801 87%185$85,573$575,300$378 pricier homes ($32K more) · newer homes
Bloomfield, NJ 07003 83%207$103,663$470,600$421 cheaper homes ($72K less) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60618 83%859$106,384$562,700$389 larger · 6 min longer commute
Chicago, IL 60625 83%859$85,703$401,900$333 cheaper homes ($141K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Port Chester, NY 10573 82%176$105,686$662,900$510 pricier homes ($120K more) · newer homes
Washington, DC 20011 81%404$110,309$723,900$379 higher income ($25K more) · pricier homes ($181K more) · larger
North Arlington, NJ 07031 80%205$94,201$474,500$434 cheaper homes ($68K less) · smaller · newer homes
Kearny, NJ 07032 80%207$79,154$459,400$364 cheaper homes ($84K less) · newer homes
Bayonne, NJ 07002 79%210$83,887$460,100$354 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Washington, DC 20018 79%403$90,639$697,000$315 pricier homes ($154K more) · smaller · newer homes
Tarrytown, NY 10591 78%181$104,984$681,000$564 pricier homes ($138K more) · smaller · newer homes
Takoma Park, MD 20912 77%402$83,870$699,300$413 pricier homes ($156K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Clifton, NJ 07011 76%202$74,194$428,900$426 cheaper homes ($114K less)
Garfield, NJ 07026 76%200$79,700$475,500$381 cheaper homes ($67K less) · newer homes
Jersey City, NJ 07307 76%203$83,297$582,600$567 pricier homes ($40K more) · 7 min longer commute · more renters
Englewood, NJ 07631 76%194$102,571$544,100$428 smaller · more single-family homes · newer homes
Lodi, NJ 07644 76%199$89,305$475,000$433 cheaper homes ($68K less) · smaller · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60608 76%858$73,366$358,600$300 cheaper homes ($184K less) · larger
Chicago, IL 60659 76%859$68,704$371,800$230 cheaper homes ($171K less)
Belleville, NJ 07109 75%206$90,438$420,800$372 cheaper homes ($122K less) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Mount Vernon, NY 10552 75%187$96,717$363,100$337 cheaper homes ($180K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Chicago, IL 60641 75%861$83,758$391,100$284 cheaper homes ($152K less) · larger · 9 min longer commute
New Orleans, LA 70115 75%1,373$90,182$643,100$342 pricier homes ($100K more) · 8 min shorter commute
North Bergen, NJ 07047 74%200$78,911$473,500$425 cheaper homes ($69K less) · newer homes
Ridgefield Park, NJ 07660 74%198$100,718$496,700$404 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller · more single-family homes

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.