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 East Rutherford, NJ 07073

East Rutherford: median income $97,993, home value $458,100, $397/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
White Plains, NY 10601 89%22$85,859$372,900$318 cheaper homes ($85K less)
White Plains, NY 10606 85%21$112,270$682,300$492 pricier homes ($224K more) · larger
Falls Church, VA 22041 81%212$92,636$452,300$311 larger · more homeowners
New Rochelle, NY 10801 80%17$85,573$575,300$378 pricier homes ($117K more) · larger
Alexandria, VA 22304 79%213$101,600$508,200$320 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
Oakland, CA 94607 79%2,551$94,863$720,600$426 pricier homes ($263K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Stamford, CT 06902 78%33$94,843$510,400$399 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 78%1,073$84,920$654,500$480 pricier homes ($196K more) · larger · older residents
Denver, CO 80214 77%1,625$75,575$559,100$387 pricier homes ($101K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Falls Church, VA 22044 76%212$101,034$775,600$339 pricier homes ($318K more) · more homeowners
Alexandria, VA 22306 76%214$97,132$594,000$343 pricier homes ($136K more) · larger · more homeowners
Chicago, IL 60616 76%704$73,819$387,200$318 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger
Miami, FL 33166 75%1,096$81,581$530,300$453 pricier homes ($72K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Minneapolis, MN 55413 75%1,008$85,282$371,600$249 cheaper homes ($87K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Lowell, MA 01852 74%191$80,906$424,300$328 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Winooski, VT 05404 74%257$79,522$381,500$280 cheaper homes ($77K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Elmsford, NY 10523 74%21$118,438$588,100$449 pricier homes ($130K more) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Alexandria, VA 22303 74%212$103,656$552,800$386 pricier homes ($95K more) · larger · more homeowners
Alexandria, VA 22312 74%213$109,272$604,200$325 pricier homes ($146K more) · larger · more homeowners
Orange, CA 92868 74%2,428$97,500$762,000$545 pricier homes ($304K more) · larger
Framingham, MA 01702 73%170$82,496$583,000$340 pricier homes ($125K more) · larger · less walkable
Quincy, MA 02169 73%188$96,290$581,600$460 pricier homes ($124K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
New Rochelle, NY 10805 73%17$102,109$368,100$284 cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger · older residents
Washington, DC 20018 73%202$90,639$697,000$315 pricier homes ($239K more) · larger · more homeowners
Alexandria, VA 22305 73%209$113,537$864,500$521 pricier homes ($406K 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.