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 Dedham, MA 02026

Dedham: median income $128,955, home value $661,800, $448/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Clark, NJ 07066 93%198$133,504$609,600$413 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller
Belmar, NJ 07719 93%208$119,828$700,900$488 pricier homes ($39K more) · newer homes
Pearl River, NY 10965 92%168$132,660$596,700$395 cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98166 92%2,487$114,969$824,400$420 pricier homes ($163K more)
Fairfield, CT 06825 91%129$135,504$630,600$395 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Boonton, NJ 07005 91%192$132,629$587,100$365 cheaper homes ($75K less) · smaller
Caldwell, NJ 07006 91%187$149,102$694,400$434 pricier homes ($33K more)
Valhalla, NY 10595 90%157$123,438$723,100$451 pricier homes ($61K more) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98155 90%2,481$131,540$816,400$460 pricier homes ($155K more) · newer homes
Bergenfield, NJ 07621 89%173$130,045$491,500$484 cheaper homes ($170K less)
Dumont, NJ 07628 89%171$126,071$497,400$420 cheaper homes ($164K less)
Babylon, NY 11702 89%155$137,652$626,900$455 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
Silver Spring, MD 20901 89%379$131,386$589,800$337 cheaper homes ($72K less) · younger residents
West Orange, NJ 07052 88%189$129,475$556,800$394 cheaper homes ($105K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Leonia, NJ 07605 88%174$129,219$672,900$469 smaller
Farmingdale, NY 11735 88%157$139,443$591,500$501 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Springfield, NJ 07081 87%195$155,906$636,600$401 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($25K less)
Nutley, NJ 07110 87%184$119,646$517,500$421 cheaper homes ($144K less) · more walkable
Midland Park, NJ 07432 87%176$146,841$607,200$441 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller
Wayne, NJ 07470 87%183$153,056$612,700$382 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Red Bank, NJ 07701 87%199$112,143$584,500$472 cheaper homes ($77K less)
Sayville, NY 11782 87%144$147,672$637,300$507 smaller
Cedar Grove, NJ 07009 86%185$151,625$633,900$422 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Cranford, NJ 07016 86%196$155,972$660,100$469 higher income ($27K more) · 5 min longer commute
Butler, NJ 07405 86%189$135,169$569,800$342 cheaper homes ($92K less) · newer 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.