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 Carlstadt, NJ 07072

Carlstadt: median income $115,444, home value $595,400, $426/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Norwalk, CT 06855 81%40$106,439$511,200$459 cheaper homes ($84K less) · younger residents · less walkable
Stamford, CT 06906 80%34$93,675$596,800$402 younger residents
Highwood, IL 60040 79%715$107,875$405,400$332 cheaper homes ($190K less) · 7 min longer commute · newer homes
Gardena, CA 90248 79%2,448$91,176$724,300$597 pricier homes ($129K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Warren, RI 02885 78%159$90,729$395,700$348 cheaper homes ($200K less) · larger
Torrance, CA 90502 78%2,449$94,291$697,400$557 pricier homes ($102K more) · larger · newer homes
Highland Falls, NY 10928 76%36$102,347$329,200$294 cheaper homes ($266K less)
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315 76%1,076$88,309$498,100$404 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger
Spring Valley, CA 91978 76%2,412$113,170$637,200$504 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger · less walkable
White Plains, NY 10603 75%22$121,026$503,000$424 cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger · younger residents
Duarte, CA 91010 75%2,423$102,705$756,500$527 pricier homes ($161K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Rumford, RI 02916 74%158$95,263$404,100$273 cheaper homes ($191K less)
Gladstone, OR 97027 74%2,429$94,375$484,200$285 cheaper homes ($111K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 74%2,391$107,687$667,100$438 pricier homes ($72K more) · larger · younger residents
Saugus, MA 01906 73%195$101,539$603,400$393 larger · 5 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Avon, MA 02322 73%181$130,625$509,600$335 cheaper homes ($86K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Artesia, CA 90701 73%2,437$101,004$776,600$590 pricier homes ($181K more) · larger · more renters
Valhalla, NY 10595 72%24$123,438$723,100$451 pricier homes ($128K more) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Tacoma, WA 98406 72%2,405$104,264$638,400$347 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Weymouth, MA 02188 71%188$107,335$594,000$396 larger · 9 min longer commute · less walkable
Stamford, CT 06907 71%35$106,379$590,000$421 younger residents
Inglewood, CA 90305 71%2,447$92,665$850,000$461 pricier homes ($255K more) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Orange, CA 92865 71%2,426$127,431$872,700$571 pricier homes ($277K more) · larger · younger residents
Seattle, WA 98146 71%2,396$102,520$679,500$451 pricier homes ($84K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Amesbury, MA 01913 70%214$103,554$519,300$385 cheaper homes ($76K less) · 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.