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 Kearny, NJ 07032

Kearny: median income $79,154, home value $459,400, $364/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lowell, MA 01852 94%196$80,906$424,300$328 cheaper homes ($35K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Yonkers, NY 10703 91%19$89,773$527,600$341 pricier homes ($68K more) · smaller
Lowell, MA 01851 90%194$92,401$467,000$324 Very close on everything we compare
New Rochelle, NY 10801 90%22$85,573$575,300$378 pricier homes ($116K more)
Brockton, MA 02301 89%185$74,214$449,400$321 larger
Everett, WA 98201 89%2,385$74,554$499,800$384 pricier homes ($40K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Revere, MA 02151 88%198$86,969$597,400$421 pricier homes ($138K more) · newer homes
Lynn, MA 01905 87%202$84,333$499,200$377 pricier homes ($40K more) · younger residents
Hyde Park, MA 02136 87%187$96,737$578,400$426 pricier homes ($119K more)
Haverhill, MA 01830 86%211$78,571$467,000$311 smaller · more homeowners
Mattapan, MA 02126 86%189$65,709$542,700$400 pricier homes ($83K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Yonkers, NY 10705 86%17$67,918$505,400$267 pricier homes ($46K more) · 6 min longer commute
Lynn, MA 01902 85%203$67,046$478,000$348 older homes
Dorchester Center, MA 02124 85%191$81,923$650,700$418 pricier homes ($191K more) · older homes
Hyattsville, MD 20782 85%194$90,205$454,700$256 newer homes
Vallejo, CA 94590 85%2,541$65,290$530,500$347 pricier homes ($71K more) · more single-family homes
Everett, MA 02149 84%196$85,218$610,000$375 pricier homes ($151K more) · older homes
Hempstead, NY 11550 84%28$92,677$465,100$460 larger · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60641 83%709$83,758$391,100$284 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger · older homes
Worcester, MA 01604 82%160$73,505$352,500$271 cheaper homes ($107K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Mount Vernon, NY 10550 82%19$60,701$494,300$300 pricier homes ($35K more) · more renters
Peekskill, NY 10566 82%38$85,954$395,600$330 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Gardena, CA 90247 82%2,445$77,333$659,100$453 pricier homes ($200K more) · 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Oakland, CA 94601 82%2,547$72,359$710,000$458 pricier homes ($251K more)
Framingham, MA 01702 81%175$82,496$583,000$340 pricier homes ($124K more) · younger residents · newer 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.