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 Fairview, NJ 07022

Fairview: median income $63,606, home value $511,400, $389/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mount Vernon, NY 10550 89%11$60,701$494,300$300 larger
Mount Rainier, MD 20712 86%204$68,846$527,900$298 smaller
Mattapan, MA 02126 84%181$65,709$542,700$400 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Inglewood, CA 90302 84%2,453$73,777$738,900$459 pricier homes ($228K more) · larger
Lawrence, MA 01843 83%195$67,585$429,100$334 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Lowell, MA 01854 83%187$72,709$412,000$330 cheaper homes ($99K less) · larger · younger residents
Bridgeport, CT 06605 82%47$56,179$335,500$277 cheaper homes ($176K less) · larger · younger residents
Inglewood, CA 90301 82%2,454$65,806$755,900$561 pricier homes ($245K more) · larger
Roxbury, MA 02119 81%183$48,488$688,600$459 pricier homes ($177K more) · larger
Lynn, MA 01902 80%195$67,046$478,000$348 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · older homes
Chelsea, MA 02150 80%188$72,179$493,500$400 larger · older homes
Fall River, MA 02720 80%161$62,196$398,000$253 cheaper homes ($113K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Fall River, MA 02724 80%159$55,590$402,800$256 cheaper homes ($109K less) · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Panorama City, CA 91402 80%2,451$57,369$624,300$492 pricier homes ($113K more) · larger
Sacramento, CA 95841 80%2,489$61,054$424,500$289 cheaper homes ($87K less) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Lakewood, WA 98499 80%2,411$67,292$408,500$327 cheaper homes ($103K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Yonkers, NY 10705 79%9$67,918$505,400$267 larger · 8 min longer commute
Lowell, MA 01852 78%188$80,906$424,300$328 cheaper homes ($87K less) · larger
Hollywood, FL 33020 78%1,082$56,473$353,300$324 cheaper homes ($158K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Yonkers, NY 10701 77%11$64,776$370,400$306 cheaper homes ($141K less) · larger
Miami, FL 33161 77%1,090$58,325$441,700$405 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Van Nuys, CA 91405 77%2,452$62,900$737,700$545 pricier homes ($226K more) · larger · newer homes
Everett, WA 98201 77%2,390$74,554$499,800$384 larger · more single-family homes
New Bedford, MA 02744 76%169$58,675$372,700$317 cheaper homes ($139K less) · 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Yonkers, NY 10703 76%11$89,773$527,600$341 higher income ($26K more) · more homeowners

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.