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 Malden, MA 02148

Malden: median income $100,606, home value $633,500, $451/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Rochelle, NY 10801 91%175$85,573$575,300$378 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller
Jersey City, NJ 07307 88%193$83,297$582,600$567 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller
Bayonne, NJ 07002 86%200$83,887$460,100$354 cheaper homes ($173K less)
Bloomfield, NJ 07003 86%197$103,663$470,600$421 cheaper homes ($163K less) · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60618 86%851$106,384$562,700$389 cheaper homes ($71K less) · older homes
Port Chester, NY 10573 83%166$105,686$662,900$510 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Washington, DC 20011 83%394$110,309$723,900$379 pricier homes ($90K more) · more homeowners
Takoma Park, MD 20912 82%392$83,870$699,300$413 pricier homes ($66K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60647 82%852$107,060$586,200$403 cheaper homes ($47K less) · older homes
Tarrytown, NY 10591 81%171$104,984$681,000$564 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller · older residents
Washington, DC 20018 81%393$90,639$697,000$315 pricier homes ($64K more) · smaller
North Arlington, NJ 07031 80%195$94,201$474,500$434 cheaper homes ($159K less) · smaller
North Bergen, NJ 07047 80%190$78,911$473,500$425 cheaper homes ($160K less)
Chicago, IL 60625 80%851$85,703$401,900$333 cheaper homes ($232K less) · older homes
Cliffside Park, NJ 07010 79%188$93,452$588,200$440 cheaper homes ($45K less) · smaller · older residents
Kearny, NJ 07032 79%197$79,154$459,400$364 cheaper homes ($174K less) · smaller
Alhambra, CA 91801 79%2,583$89,156$834,000$576 pricier homes ($201K more) · older residents · newer homes
Bronx, NY 10470 78%179$90,046$497,700$399 cheaper homes ($136K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Staten Island, NY 10301 77%200$85,609$684,700$389 pricier homes ($51K more) · smaller · 11 min longer commute
White Plains, NY 10606 77%170$112,270$682,300$492 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Englewood, NJ 07631 76%184$102,571$544,100$428 cheaper homes ($89K less) · smaller · older residents
Bronx, NY 10465 76%180$87,985$625,800$443 8 min longer commute · more homeowners
Yonkers, NY 10704 76%178$106,786$526,800$370 cheaper homes ($107K less) · smaller · older residents
Brooklyn, NY 11210 76%194$83,692$838,000$508 pricier homes ($205K more) · 9 min longer commute
Arlington, VA 22204 76%401$107,941$688,000$418 pricier homes ($55K more) · 8 min shorter commute · 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.