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 Essex, CT 06426

Essex: median income $103,705, home value $729,200, $433/sq ft, 38-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Oceanport, NJ 07757 76%111$126,094$757,700$524 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · younger residents
Flourtown, PA 19031 76%171$134,592$579,300$331 higher income ($31K more) · cheaper homes ($150K less) · larger
Fontana, WI 53125 76%834$112,500$593,800$434 cheaper homes ($135K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Wellfleet, MA 02667 75%129$121,110$855,500$627 pricier homes ($126K more) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Nahant, MA 01908 74%106$112,762$748,800$558 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Rockport, MA 01966 74%128$96,250$746,100$545 larger · 8 min shorter commute · more renters
Hull, MA 02045 74%101$115,485$646,000$432 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger · older homes
Oak Brook, IL 60523 73%804$118,194$782,100$282 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Pocasset, MA 02559 72%95$90,855$625,400$413 cheaper homes ($104K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Seaside Park, NJ 08752 72%133$78,750$802,300$732 pricier homes ($73K more) · less walkable
Margate City, NJ 08402 71%179$121,800$708,800$745 larger · 10 min shorter commute
Spring Lake, NJ 07762 68%119$116,295$927,700$705 pricier homes ($199K more) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716 67%108$126,591$647,400$474 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger · younger residents
Longport, NJ 08403 67%180$110,625$1,054,900$817 pricier homes ($326K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Cold Spring, NY 10516 67%80$140,225$639,200$417 higher income ($37K more) · cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger
Bayville, NY 11709 67%68$149,191$710,000$454 higher income ($45K more) · larger · younger residents
Grand Lake, CO 80447 67%1,741$96,000$632,400$444 cheaper homes ($97K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Mattapoisett, MA 02739 66%84$130,241$681,600$430 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Pompton Plains, NJ 07444 66%103$117,959$539,000$431 cheaper homes ($190K less) · larger · younger residents
Forest Knolls, CA 94933 66%2,647$133,006$862,100$631 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($133K more) · smaller
North Weymouth, MA 02191 65%97$120,324$526,900$481 cheaper homes ($202K less) · larger · younger residents
Brigantine, NJ 08203 65%170$97,250$524,800$496 cheaper homes ($204K less) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Lambertville, NJ 08530 65%149$120,467$574,800$392 cheaper homes ($154K less) · larger · younger residents
Emerald Isle, NC 28594 65%526$89,773$603,700$474 cheaper homes ($126K less) · 9 min shorter commute · less walkable
Jupiter, FL 33469 64%1,085$106,265$615,700$480 cheaper homes ($114K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute

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.