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 Boonton, NJ 07005

Boonton: median income $132,629, home value $587,100, $365/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pearl River, NY 10965 93%23$132,660$596,700$395 6 min longer commute
Chelmsford, MA 01824 92%196$140,050$619,700$384 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462 92%72$137,535$471,000$264 cheaper homes ($116K less)
Dedham, MA 02026 91%192$128,955$661,800$448 pricier homes ($75K more) · larger
Framingham, MA 01701 90%182$137,094$644,300$395 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
East Greenwich, RI 02818 90%161$139,217$613,500$342 pricier homes ($26K more) · newer homes
Burlington, MA 01803 88%199$146,436$740,600$441 pricier homes ($154K more) · larger · newer homes
Fairfield, CT 06825 88%64$135,504$630,600$395 pricier homes ($44K more) · 8 min longer commute
Fort Washington, PA 19034 88%68$165,354$627,500$292 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller
Salt Lake City, UT 84124 88%1,941$120,408$746,600$363 pricier homes ($160K more)
North Kingstown, RI 02852 87%160$118,643$504,900$332 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger · older residents
Portsmouth, RI 02871 87%171$116,831$597,000$392 older residents · newer homes
Sayville, NY 11782 87%70$147,672$637,300$507 pricier homes ($50K more) · 6 min longer commute
Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006 87%64$128,295$560,200$257 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Henrico, VA 23229 87%287$107,854$485,400$303 cheaper homes ($102K less) · larger
Downers Grove, IL 60515 87%707$123,197$461,200$308 cheaper homes ($126K less) · larger
La Grange Park, IL 60526 87%700$120,308$439,800$308 cheaper homes ($147K less)
Danvers, MA 01923 86%212$125,395$644,200$428 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger
Stoneham, MA 02180 86%203$113,964$671,900$437 pricier homes ($85K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Valhalla, NY 10595 86%35$123,438$723,100$451 pricier homes ($136K more) · smaller
Dallas, TX 75229 86%1,353$121,469$631,700$335 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger
Sacramento, CA 95864 86%2,470$127,953$810,400$439 pricier homes ($223K more) · larger
Seattle, WA 98155 86%2,374$131,540$816,400$460 pricier homes ($229K more) · larger
Auburn, MA 01501 85%160$116,762$400,800$299 cheaper homes ($186K less)
Broomall, PA 19008 84%82$119,698$500,300$274 cheaper homes ($87K less)

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.