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 Cedar Grove, NJ 07009

Cedar Grove: median income $151,625, home value $633,900, $422/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fairfield, CT 06825 93%57$135,504$630,600$395 larger
Babylon, NY 11702 89%49$137,652$626,900$455 older residents
Swampscott, MA 01907 88%205$134,386$771,100$441 pricier homes ($137K more)
Eastchester, NY 10709 87%23$170,417$847,900$497 pricier homes ($214K more)
Wakefield, MA 01880 86%199$134,306$723,500$468 pricier homes ($90K more) · larger · more renters
Dedham, MA 02026 86%185$128,955$661,800$448 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Farmingdale, NY 11735 86%43$139,443$591,500$501 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Greenlawn, NY 11740 86%45$152,386$693,700$461 pricier homes ($60K more) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Reading, MA 01867 85%198$165,912$809,000$473 pricier homes ($175K more) · larger · less walkable
Pearl River, NY 10965 85%18$132,660$596,700$395 cheaper homes ($37K less) · less walkable
Springfield, VA 22151 85%212$156,015$655,800$350 more single-family homes
Park Ridge, IL 60068 85%709$143,222$551,700$325 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Elmhurst, IL 60126 85%714$147,566$540,300$360 cheaper homes ($94K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
River Forest, IL 60305 85%707$146,786$687,300$319 pricier homes ($53K more) · older homes
Oyster Bay, NY 11771 84%37$157,923$936,300$484 pricier homes ($302K more) · less walkable
Framingham, MA 01701 83%176$137,094$644,300$395 larger · less walkable
Braintree, MA 02184 83%192$122,214$656,800$428 lower income ($29K less) · larger
Mount Kisco, NY 10549 83%36$133,988$668,000$425 pricier homes ($34K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Pleasantville, NY 10570 83%30$183,833$862,300$470 higher income ($32K more) · pricier homes ($228K more)
Sayville, NY 11782 83%60$147,672$637,300$507 less walkable
Kensington, MD 20895 83%197$173,625$781,500$396 pricier homes ($148K more)
Walpole, MA 02081 82%178$156,250$687,500$396 pricier homes ($54K more) · less walkable · newer homes
West Roxbury, MA 02132 82%187$138,724$746,100$505 pricier homes ($112K more) · larger · more renters
Valhalla, NY 10595 82%29$123,438$723,100$451 lower income ($28K less) · pricier homes ($89K more) · smaller
Rockville Centre, NY 11570 82%34$157,163$809,200$536 pricier homes ($175K more) · larger · 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.