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 Cranford, NJ 07016

Cranford: median income $155,972, home value $660,100, $469/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fairfield, CT 06825 93%67$135,504$630,600$395 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Reading, MA 01867 89%210$165,912$809,000$473 pricier homes ($149K more) · less walkable
West Roxbury, MA 02132 89%198$138,724$746,100$505 pricier homes ($86K more)
Kensington, MD 20895 89%185$173,625$781,500$396 pricier homes ($121K more)
Rockville Centre, NY 11570 87%35$157,163$809,200$536 pricier homes ($149K more) · more walkable
Dedham, MA 02026 86%196$128,955$661,800$448 lower income ($27K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Milton, MA 02186 86%200$188,033$933,200$547 higher income ($32K more) · pricier homes ($273K more)
Babylon, NY 11702 86%51$137,652$626,900$455 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Framingham, MA 01701 85%187$137,094$644,300$395 less walkable · newer homes
Wakefield, MA 01880 85%210$134,306$723,500$468 pricier homes ($63K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Pleasantville, NY 10570 84%43$183,833$862,300$470 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($202K more) · smaller
Floral Park, NY 11001 84%32$150,000$765,000$563 pricier homes ($105K more)
Park Ridge, IL 60068 84%708$143,222$551,700$325 cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Elmhurst, IL 60126 84%712$147,566$540,300$360 cheaper homes ($120K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Swampscott, MA 01907 83%216$134,386$771,100$441 pricier homes ($111K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Eastchester, NY 10709 83%33$170,417$847,900$497 pricier homes ($188K more) · smaller · more walkable
Oyster Bay, NY 11771 83%43$157,923$936,300$484 pricier homes ($276K more) · smaller
Marblehead, MA 01945 82%219$179,583$942,200$536 pricier homes ($282K more) · older residents
Farmingdale, NY 11735 82%46$139,443$591,500$501 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Greenlawn, NY 11740 82%51$152,386$693,700$461 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller · newer homes
Sayville, NY 11782 82%64$147,672$637,300$507 smaller · less walkable · newer homes
Wynnewood, PA 19096 82%68$186,277$713,100$339 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($53K more) · smaller
Silver Spring, MD 20901 82%183$131,386$589,800$337 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger
Highland Park, IL 60035 81%707$168,094$607,300$338 cheaper homes ($53K less) · 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Newburyport, MA 01950 80%231$139,625$834,000$552 pricier homes ($174K more) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes

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.