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 Mattapan, MA 02126

Mattapan: median income $65,709, home value $542,700, $400/sq ft, 39-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bronx, NY 10466 92%172$65,969$616,800$382 pricier homes ($74K more) · larger
Yonkers, NY 10705 90%172$67,918$505,400$267 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Bronx, NY 10461 89%173$67,028$663,500$420 pricier homes ($121K more) · larger · more renters
Bronx, NY 10469 89%172$76,020$665,400$410 pricier homes ($123K more) · larger
Kearny, NJ 07032 86%189$79,154$459,400$364 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Mount Vernon, NY 10550 86%170$60,701$494,300$300 cheaper homes ($48K less) · more renters
Jamaica, NY 11433 86%177$77,519$658,800$479 pricier homes ($116K more)
East Elmhurst, NY 11369 85%178$80,297$736,300$526 pricier homes ($194K more)
Fairview, NJ 07022 84%181$63,606$511,400$389 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Staten Island, NY 10304 84%193$71,561$678,700$475 pricier homes ($136K more) · larger · newer homes
East Orange, NJ 07017 82%192$58,853$374,800$252 cheaper homes ($168K less) · larger
North Bergen, NJ 07047 82%183$78,911$473,500$425 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Washington, DC 20019 82%385$58,296$456,800$252 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger
Bronx, NY 10465 81%173$87,985$625,800$443 pricier homes ($83K more) · larger · more homeowners
Jersey City, NJ 07305 80%189$76,527$450,800$353 cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger
Yonkers, NY 10703 80%171$89,773$527,600$341 7 min shorter commute
Jamaica, NY 11435 80%178$79,710$547,200$472 larger · 7 min longer commute
East Orange, NJ 07018 79%193$62,564$353,800$271 cheaper homes ($189K less) · more renters
Garfield, NJ 07026 79%183$79,700$475,500$381 cheaper homes ($67K less) · 11 min shorter commute
Silver Spring, MD 20903 79%382$80,768$485,700$258 cheaper homes ($57K less) · newer homes
Elizabeth, NJ 07208 78%196$65,511$459,200$321 cheaper homes ($84K less) · 10 min shorter commute · more renters
Staten Island, NY 10301 78%192$85,609$684,700$389 pricier homes ($142K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Staten Island, NY 10302 78%194$78,263$611,900$478 pricier homes ($69K more) · more single-family homes
Bronx, NY 10470 78%172$90,046$497,700$399 cheaper homes ($45K less) · smaller
Ozone Park, NY 11416 78%180$81,188$740,500$503 pricier homes ($198K more) · 7 min longer commute · older 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.