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 Clifton, NJ 07013

Clifton: median income $116,273, home value $478,100, $434/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saugus, MA 01906 89%197$101,539$603,400$393 pricier homes ($125K more)
Danvers, MA 01923 88%204$125,395$644,200$428 pricier homes ($166K more) · less walkable
Milford, CT 06460 88%63$104,360$412,600$347 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Yonkers, NY 10710 87%18$108,845$560,000$392 pricier homes ($82K more) · 6 min longer commute
Braintree, MA 02184 86%188$122,214$656,800$428 pricier homes ($179K more) · younger residents
Bristol, RI 02809 86%161$97,764$485,000$387 Very close on everything we compare
Amityville, NY 11701 86%41$117,033$499,500$442 less walkable · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60631 86%710$115,000$436,400$280 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Stoughton, MA 02072 85%181$104,794$523,800$335 pricier homes ($46K more) · less walkable · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98166 85%2,392$114,969$824,400$420 pricier homes ($346K more)
Tacoma, WA 98407 85%2,400$110,288$656,600$414 pricier homes ($179K more) · newer homes
Dedham, MA 02026 84%182$128,955$661,800$448 pricier homes ($184K more)
East Weymouth, MA 02189 84%192$94,541$474,800$437 smaller
Seattle, WA 98146 84%2,391$102,520$679,500$451 pricier homes ($201K more) · younger residents
Amesbury, MA 01913 83%216$103,554$519,300$385 pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller · less walkable
Stoneham, MA 02180 83%194$113,964$671,900$437 pricier homes ($194K more)
Fairhaven, MA 02719 83%179$95,965$446,700$339 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Norwalk, CT 06851 83%44$111,341$587,400$407 pricier homes ($109K more) · less walkable
Westbury, NY 11590 83%32$152,960$633,800$516 higher income ($37K more) · pricier homes ($156K more) · larger
Tacoma, WA 98406 83%2,400$104,264$638,400$347 pricier homes ($160K more) · younger residents
Peabody, MA 01960 82%202$96,501$596,700$406 pricier homes ($119K more) · larger
Hatboro, PA 19040 82%69$114,293$384,900$285 cheaper homes ($93K less) · younger residents
La Grange Park, IL 60526 82%713$120,308$439,800$308 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller
Methuen, MA 01844 81%201$113,212$499,800$341 larger · younger residents
Lynn, MA 01904 81%200$99,614$560,500$391 pricier homes ($82K more) · younger residents

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.