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 Fort Lee, NJ 07024

Fort Lee: median income $107,396, home value $448,000, $448/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bronx, NY 10471 81%5$103,046$414,000$366 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller · 8 min longer commute
Forest Hills, NY 11375 75%11$105,904$552,400$467 pricier homes ($104K more) · larger · 10 min longer commute
Miami, FL 33180 75%1,088$91,055$501,000$330 pricier homes ($53K more) · 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Tarrytown, NY 10591 74%18$104,984$681,000$564 pricier homes ($233K more) · smaller · older homes
Alexandria, VA 22302 74%216$123,539$631,100$441 pricier homes ($183K more) · smaller · younger residents
Alexandria, VA 22303 74%218$103,656$552,800$386 pricier homes ($105K more) · smaller · younger residents
Evanston, IL 60202 74%714$98,989$397,600$300 cheaper homes ($50K less) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Quincy, MA 02171 73%182$106,885$662,900$512 pricier homes ($215K more) · smaller · younger residents
Great Neck, NY 11021 72%14$120,230$662,000$534 pricier homes ($214K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Washington, DC 20017 72%208$106,300$702,600$370 pricier homes ($255K more) · smaller · younger residents
Alexandria, VA 22304 72%218$101,600$508,200$320 pricier homes ($60K more) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Mount Vernon, NY 10552 70%9$96,717$363,100$337 cheaper homes ($85K less) · smaller · older homes
Falls Church, VA 22041 70%218$92,636$452,300$311 younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Quincy, MA 02169 69%182$96,290$581,600$460 pricier homes ($134K more) · larger · younger residents
Rockville, MD 20852 69%208$122,472$665,200$359 pricier homes ($217K more) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Philadelphia, PA 19128 67%86$93,173$353,500$256 cheaper homes ($95K less) · younger residents
North Miami Beach, FL 33160 67%1,089$67,040$397,500$399 lower income ($40K less) · cheaper homes ($51K less)
Little Neck, NY 11362 66%14$122,090$530,800$601 pricier homes ($83K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Miami Beach, FL 33140 66%1,097$107,063$866,900$623 pricier homes ($419K more) · smaller · younger residents
Chicago, IL 60613 66%712$95,572$390,800$337 cheaper homes ($57K less) · younger residents · more renters
Philadelphia, PA 19106 65%88$121,047$517,900$407 pricier homes ($70K more) · smaller · younger residents
Reston, VA 20190 65%221$134,746$581,400$402 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($133K more) · smaller
Alexandria, VA 22312 65%219$109,272$604,200$325 pricier homes ($156K more) · younger residents · 8 min shorter commute
Hollywood, FL 33019 65%1,084$96,497$655,100$427 pricier homes ($207K more) · smaller · older residents
Ossining, NY 10562 64%23$115,697$498,700$392 pricier homes ($51K more) · more single-family 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.