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 Dorchester, MA 02122

Dorchester: median income $86,150, home value $669,900, $471/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Jersey City, NJ 07307 85%187$83,297$582,600$567 cheaper homes ($87K less) · larger · newer homes
Bronx, NY 10470 85%173$90,046$497,700$399 cheaper homes ($172K less) · 7 min longer commute
New Rochelle, NY 10801 80%170$85,573$575,300$378 cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Bayonne, NJ 07002 78%194$83,887$460,100$354 cheaper homes ($210K less) · larger · newer homes
Garfield, NJ 07026 78%185$79,700$475,500$381 cheaper homes ($194K less) · 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Kearny, NJ 07032 78%191$79,154$459,400$364 cheaper homes ($211K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Wallington, NJ 07057 78%186$85,862$528,300$392 cheaper homes ($142K less) · smaller · newer homes
Brooklyn, NY 11210 78%188$83,692$838,000$508 pricier homes ($168K more) · larger · 11 min longer commute
North Arlington, NJ 07031 77%189$94,201$474,500$434 cheaper homes ($195K less) · more single-family homes · newer homes
North Bergen, NJ 07047 76%185$78,911$473,500$425 cheaper homes ($196K less) · larger · newer homes
Jackson Heights, NY 11372 76%180$78,606$469,400$528 cheaper homes ($201K less) · larger · older residents
Maspeth, NY 11378 76%182$85,830$834,100$585 pricier homes ($164K more) · larger · 10 min longer commute
Washington, DC 20018 76%387$90,639$697,000$315 pricier homes ($27K more) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Yonkers, NY 10703 75%172$89,773$527,600$341 cheaper homes ($142K less) · newer homes
Bronx, NY 10469 74%174$76,020$665,400$410 larger · 8 min longer commute · newer homes
East Elmhurst, NY 11369 74%180$80,297$736,300$526 pricier homes ($66K more) · 10 min longer commute · newer homes
Woodside, NY 11377 74%182$73,073$727,200$586 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger · more renters
Washington, DC 20011 74%388$110,309$723,900$379 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger
Lodi, NJ 07644 73%184$89,305$475,000$433 cheaper homes ($195K less) · 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Tarrytown, NY 10591 73%165$104,984$681,000$564 older residents · newer homes
Brooklyn, NY 11229 73%189$70,603$818,900$519 pricier homes ($149K more) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Richmond Hill, NY 11418 73%181$90,156$788,500$562 pricier homes ($119K more) · larger · 12 min longer commute
Chicago, IL 60625 73%851$85,703$401,900$333 cheaper homes ($268K less) · larger
Flushing, NY 11367 72%179$75,061$493,900$500 cheaper homes ($176K less) · larger · 10 min longer commute
Cliffside Park, NJ 07010 71%182$93,452$588,200$440 cheaper homes ($82K 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.