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 Rahway, NJ 07065

Rahway: median income $91,461, home value $386,400, $395/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Haverhill, MA 01830 89%224$78,571$467,000$311 pricier homes ($81K more)
Hyde Park, MA 02136 89%199$96,737$578,400$426 pricier homes ($192K more)
Hempstead, NY 11550 89%35$92,677$465,100$460 pricier homes ($79K more) · larger
Peekskill, NY 10566 88%51$85,954$395,600$330 5 min longer commute
Everett, WA 98201 88%2,384$74,554$499,800$384 pricier homes ($113K more)
Hyattsville, MD 20782 87%182$90,205$454,700$256 pricier homes ($68K more)
Chicago, IL 60656 87%711$95,766$348,700$275 cheaper homes ($38K less) · more homeowners
Lowell, MA 01852 86%208$80,906$424,300$328 pricier homes ($38K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Hyattsville, MD 20781 86%182$86,018$465,100$308 pricier homes ($79K more) · smaller · younger residents
Norwalk, CT 06854 85%56$86,679$460,500$436 pricier homes ($74K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Yonkers, NY 10704 85%31$106,786$526,800$370 pricier homes ($140K more)
Riverdale, MD 20737 85%180$86,951$390,500$286 younger residents
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334 85%1,052$75,361$469,700$375 pricier homes ($83K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Seattle, WA 98198 85%2,393$86,239$589,500$361 pricier homes ($203K more) · newer homes
Ossining, NY 10562 84%45$115,697$498,700$392 pricier homes ($112K more)
Temple Hills, MD 20748 84%188$83,162$384,300$237 Very close on everything we compare
Hyattsville, MD 20784 84%180$86,509$369,900$275 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315 84%1,058$88,309$498,100$404 pricier homes ($112K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Haverhill, MA 01832 83%222$83,041$429,000$320 pricier homes ($43K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 83%1,058$75,952$423,300$350 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger · more homeowners
Saint Petersburg, FL 33705 83%1,008$73,027$365,600$297 more single-family homes
Worcester, MA 01602 82%171$91,764$417,300$291 pricier homes ($31K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Brockton, MA 02301 82%196$74,214$449,400$321 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger
Attleboro, MA 02703 82%180$99,152$448,800$316 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger · more homeowners
Taunton, MA 02780 82%188$74,471$413,900$326 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · less walkable

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.