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 Whitman, MA 02382

Whitman: median income $108,933, home value $472,700, $343/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Patchogue, NY 11772 85%140$105,245$474,800$400 larger · 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Seymour, CT 06483 84%121$107,708$370,000$242 cheaper homes ($103K less) · newer homes
Walden, NY 12586 84%171$87,194$348,400$245 cheaper homes ($124K less)
Washington, NJ 07882 83%229$107,567$354,900$242 cheaper homes ($118K less) · newer homes
Wharton, NJ 07885 83%205$100,716$380,900$333 cheaper homes ($92K less) · older residents
South Amboy, NJ 08879 83%206$92,786$389,800$360 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Brewster, NY 10509 83%145$116,831$458,300$291 newer homes
Coram, NY 11727 83%135$103,287$443,200$341 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · newer homes
Old Bridge, NJ 08857 82%211$109,312$486,600$372 larger · newer homes
Garnerville, NY 10923 82%169$100,469$471,400$332 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Hatboro, PA 19040 82%254$114,293$384,900$285 cheaper homes ($88K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Bloomingdale, NJ 07403 81%190$128,010$431,600$410 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Trenton, NJ 08620 81%234$105,368$373,800$307 cheaper homes ($99K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Sayreville, NJ 08872 81%210$97,489$447,200$362 cheaper homes ($26K less) · newer homes
South River, NJ 08882 81%212$96,147$405,200$331 cheaper homes ($68K less) · more single-family homes · more walkable
Amityville, NY 11701 81%161$117,033$499,500$442 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Beacon, NY 12508 81%161$92,461$445,100$400 cheaper homes ($28K less) · more renters
Bethel, CT 06801 80%136$116,541$434,600$296 cheaper homes ($38K less) · newer homes
Dunellen, NJ 08812 80%210$118,316$442,900$356 cheaper homes ($30K less) · more walkable
Manville, NJ 08835 80%218$93,333$354,300$363 cheaper homes ($118K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776 80%136$120,573$496,600$337 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes · newer homes
New Windsor, NY 12553 80%166$92,757$362,300$272 cheaper homes ($110K less) · larger · newer homes
Levittown, PA 19056 79%245$111,594$378,400$237 cheaper homes ($94K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more walkable
Lakewood, WA 98498 79%2,516$91,664$506,300$324 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Plainfield, NJ 07062 78%206$98,344$396,100$417 cheaper homes ($77K less) · more walkable

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.