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 Pine Brook, NJ 07058

Pine Brook: median income $127,805, home value $768,600, $382/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lake Bluff, IL 60044 87%704$134,724$599,900$331 cheaper homes ($169K less) · larger · older residents
Westborough, MA 01581 84%171$141,944$685,300$394 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger
Essex, MA 01929 82%220$156,442$902,000$416 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($133K more) · smaller
Foxboro, MA 02035 82%181$115,833$606,300$366 cheaper homes ($162K less) · larger
Port Jefferson, NY 11777 82%67$150,505$680,200$382 cheaper homes ($88K less) · larger · older residents
Fort Washington, PA 19034 82%68$165,354$627,500$292 higher income ($38K more) · cheaper homes ($141K less)
Clarendon Hills, IL 60514 82%708$118,716$566,300$332 cheaper homes ($202K less) · larger · more homeowners
Kenmore, WA 98028 82%2,376$139,764$920,800$474 pricier homes ($152K more) · larger · newer homes
Steilacoom, WA 98388 82%2,397$100,851$655,000$377 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($114K less)
Neptune Beach, FL 32266 81%830$119,294$670,900$391 cheaper homes ($98K less) · more walkable
Yarmouth, ME 04096 80%294$110,216$639,700$434 cheaper homes ($129K less) · larger · older residents
Dallas, TX 75209 80%1,356$134,707$864,200$391 pricier homes ($96K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
North Andover, MA 01845 79%209$140,670$732,900$367 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Stamford, CT 06907 79%46$106,379$590,000$421 cheaper homes ($179K less) · more walkable
Austin, TX 78750 79%1,495$121,563$601,800$299 cheaper homes ($167K less) · larger · newer homes
Santa Rosa, CA 95405 79%2,543$118,299$788,000$455 larger · older residents
Mukilteo, WA 98275 79%2,377$132,861$884,900$418 pricier homes ($116K more) · larger · newer homes
Bedford, MA 01730 78%194$172,400$898,500$496 higher income ($45K more) · pricier homes ($130K more) · larger
Ipswich, MA 01938 78%219$138,750$745,400$421 larger · older residents
Stoneham, MA 02180 78%201$113,964$671,900$437 cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger
Waltham, MA 02451 78%192$122,335$753,000$487 larger · more walkable
East Greenwich, RI 02818 78%159$139,217$613,500$342 cheaper homes ($155K less) · larger · older residents
Valhalla, NY 10595 78%33$123,438$723,100$451 cheaper homes ($46K less) · older homes
Oyster Bay, NY 11771 78%43$157,923$936,300$484 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($168K more) · larger
Golden, CO 80401 78%1,619$118,039$804,500$350 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger

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.