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.

Reset

Towns most like East Walpole, MA 02032

East Walpole: median income $180,682, home value $702,300, $365/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pleasantville, NY 10570 87%150$183,833$862,300$470 pricier homes ($160K more) · larger
Waldwick, NJ 07463 84%170$177,962$588,500$462 cheaper homes ($114K less) · larger
Haddonfield, NJ 08033 84%253$151,181$635,300$384 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger
Kensington, MD 20895 84%376$173,625$781,500$396 pricier homes ($79K more) · larger · older residents
Verona, NJ 07044 83%181$161,843$608,400$432 cheaper homes ($94K less) · larger · older residents
Wynnewood, PA 19096 83%258$186,277$713,100$339 larger · older residents
Cedar Grove, NJ 07009 81%180$151,625$633,900$422 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger
Ramsey, NJ 07446 81%169$160,996$697,300$450 larger · older residents
Eastchester, NY 10709 81%157$170,417$847,900$497 pricier homes ($146K more) · larger · older residents
River Forest, IL 60305 81%851$146,786$687,300$319 lower income ($34K less) · larger · older homes
Midland Park, NJ 07432 80%171$146,841$607,200$441 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($95K less) · older residents
Fort Washington, PA 19034 80%250$165,354$627,500$292 cheaper homes ($75K less) · older residents
River Edge, NJ 07661 79%169$159,028$660,300$499 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · older residents
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004 79%256$149,232$632,000$327 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger
Allendale, NJ 07401 78%169$160,162$782,700$485 pricier homes ($80K more) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Shrewsbury, NJ 07702 78%194$178,958$811,400$497 pricier homes ($109K more) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
New Providence, NJ 07974 78%193$172,894$758,400$549 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger · older residents
Paoli, PA 19301 78%266$167,348$550,100$344 cheaper homes ($152K less) · larger · older residents
Montvale, NJ 07645 77%164$178,269$709,700$466 larger · less walkable
Evanston, IL 60203 77%845$170,224$468,400$305 cheaper homes ($234K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Hillsdale, NJ 07642 76%166$186,688$677,500$447 larger · older residents · more single-family homes
Scotch Plains, NJ 07076 75%194$183,655$718,200$475 larger · older residents
Closter, NJ 07624 75%164$190,469$871,300$541 pricier homes ($169K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Brielle, NJ 08730 75%205$172,250$849,100$641 pricier homes ($147K more) · older residents
Metuchen, NJ 08840 75%197$146,635$560,100$466 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($142K 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.