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 Plainfield, NJ 07062

Plainfield: median income $98,344, home value $396,100, $417/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Brockton, MA 02302 85%203$92,274$424,800$366 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · newer homes
Stratford, CT 06615 84%76$81,534$364,700$306 cheaper homes ($31K less) · older residents
Willow Grove, PA 19090 84%50$99,928$369,100$256 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Worcester, MA 01606 83%178$92,105$370,800$317 cheaper homes ($25K less) · 6 min shorter commute
North Providence, RI 02911 83%174$89,456$360,200$251 cheaper homes ($36K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Hyattsville, MD 20781 83%178$86,018$465,100$308 pricier homes ($69K more)
Worcester, MA 01602 82%174$91,764$417,300$291 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Hatboro, PA 19040 82%49$114,293$384,900$285 Very close on everything we compare
Villa Park, IL 60181 82%710$92,142$311,500$269 cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger
Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670 82%2,420$88,872$659,600$547 pricier homes ($264K more)
East Weymouth, MA 02189 81%211$94,541$474,800$437 pricier homes ($79K more) · older residents
Freeport, NY 11520 81%43$121,748$506,100$406 pricier homes ($110K more) · larger
Hyattsville, MD 20784 81%176$86,509$369,900$275 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Sacramento, CA 95822 81%2,482$86,801$466,000$345 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Cranston, RI 02910 80%173$90,698$338,700$271 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Richmond, CA 94804 80%2,539$91,037$631,900$535 pricier homes ($236K more) · larger
Seattle, WA 98178 80%2,383$99,505$660,400$367 pricier homes ($264K more) · larger
Tacoma, WA 98408 80%2,395$80,899$410,500$320 more single-family homes
Lynn, MA 01904 79%219$99,614$560,500$391 pricier homes ($164K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Saugus, MA 01906 79%216$101,539$603,400$393 pricier homes ($207K more) · larger · older residents
Highland Falls, NY 10928 79%55$102,347$329,200$294 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller · older residents
Copiague, NY 11726 79%53$128,425$481,500$468 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($85K more) · newer homes
Levittown, PA 19056 79%42$111,594$378,400$237 older residents
Rockville, MD 20851 79%180$126,411$568,900$363 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($173K more)
Covina, CA 91722 79%2,406$102,062$653,900$535 pricier homes ($258K 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.