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 Scotch Plains, NJ 07076

Scotch Plains: median income $183,655, home value $718,200, $475/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Reading, MA 01867 95%213$165,912$809,000$473 pricier homes ($91K more)
Fairfield, CT 06824 90%68$193,300$869,100$526 pricier homes ($151K more)
Pleasantville, NY 10570 90%46$183,833$862,300$470 pricier homes ($144K more) · smaller
Fairfield, CT 06825 88%70$135,504$630,600$395 lower income ($48K less) · cheaper homes ($88K less)
Oyster Bay, NY 11771 88%47$157,923$936,300$484 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($218K more) · smaller
Kensington, MD 20895 88%182$173,625$781,500$396 pricier homes ($63K more) · more walkable
Framingham, MA 01701 86%191$137,094$644,300$395 lower income ($47K less) · cheaper homes ($74K less)
Milton, MA 02186 86%204$188,033$933,200$547 pricier homes ($215K more) · older homes
Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 86%55$173,573$617,900$417 cheaper homes ($100K less)
Greenlawn, NY 11740 86%55$152,386$693,700$461 lower income ($31K less) · smaller
Huntington, NY 11743 86%53$183,187$783,100$492 pricier homes ($65K more) · larger
Sayville, NY 11782 86%68$147,672$637,300$507 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller
Andover, MA 01810 85%216$172,606$855,600$412 pricier homes ($137K more) · newer homes
Lynnfield, MA 01940 85%216$173,214$905,400$418 pricier homes ($187K more) · smaller · less walkable
Walpole, MA 02081 85%192$156,250$687,500$396 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($31K less) · newer homes
Fairfax, VA 22032 85%200$178,394$799,200$361 pricier homes ($81K more) · newer homes
East Setauket, NY 11733 84%69$173,281$683,400$408 cheaper homes ($35K less) · less walkable
Jericho, NY 11753 84%45$175,781$979,800$593 pricier homes ($262K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Plainview, NY 11803 84%47$187,514$800,200$575 pricier homes ($82K more) · more homeowners
Holliston, MA 01746 83%186$159,817$650,300$360 cheaper homes ($68K less) · smaller · less walkable
Commack, NY 11725 83%59$168,281$670,000$463 cheaper homes ($48K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Burlington, MA 01803 82%209$146,436$740,600$441 lower income ($37K less) · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Medway, MA 02053 82%185$173,750$617,300$337 cheaper homes ($101K less) · smaller · newer homes
Ridgefield, CT 06877 82%64$179,219$836,200$399 pricier homes ($118K more) · less walkable · newer homes
East Northport, NY 11731 82%57$161,132$646,600$459 cheaper homes ($72K less) · more single-family homes

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.