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 East Orange, NJ 07017

East Orange: median income $58,853, home value $374,800, $252/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mount Vernon, NY 10550 93%22$60,701$494,300$300 pricier homes ($120K more)
Washington, DC 20019 93%195$58,296$456,800$252 pricier homes ($82K more) · larger
Woonsocket, RI 02895 91%163$61,059$311,000$228 cheaper homes ($64K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Washington, DC 20020 91%197$54,032$456,000$244 pricier homes ($81K more)
Bridgeport, CT 06605 89%59$56,179$335,500$277 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Yonkers, NY 10705 88%19$67,918$505,400$267 pricier homes ($131K more)
Bridgeport, CT 06604 87%60$50,026$267,100$210 cheaper homes ($108K less)
Yonkers, NY 10701 87%22$64,776$370,400$306 larger
Washington, DC 20032 83%200$49,139$407,700$215 pricier homes ($33K more)
Mattapan, MA 02126 82%192$65,709$542,700$400 pricier homes ($168K more) · smaller
Fall River, MA 02720 82%172$62,196$398,000$253 10 min shorter commute
Hollywood, FL 33020 82%1,075$56,473$353,300$324 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60609 82%701$58,896$268,300$213 cheaper homes ($107K less) · larger · older homes
Lynn, MA 01902 80%206$67,046$478,000$348 pricier homes ($103K more) · older homes
Pawtucket, RI 02860 80%165$61,539$336,100$250 cheaper homes ($39K less) · 10 min shorter commute
Fall River, MA 02724 79%170$55,590$402,800$256 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller · 10 min shorter commute
Philadelphia, PA 19111 79%67$61,138$253,700$218 cheaper homes ($121K less) · larger · more homeowners
Chicago, IL 60639 79%706$61,089$309,900$241 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger · more homeowners
Chicago, IL 60651 79%706$54,409$269,900$199 cheaper homes ($105K less) · larger · more homeowners
Fall River, MA 02721 78%171$52,841$406,000$228 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Oxon Hill, MD 20745 78%200$75,236$375,700$271 newer homes
Providence, RI 02909 77%161$64,649$325,300$250 cheaper homes ($50K less) · 8 min shorter commute · older homes
Phoenix, AZ 85015 77%2,129$54,874$345,000$247 cheaper homes ($30K less) · 9 min shorter commute · newer homes
Lowell, MA 01854 76%197$72,709$412,000$330 pricier homes ($37K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Bronx, NY 10466 76%20$65,969$616,800$382 pricier homes ($242K more) · larger · 6 min longer 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.