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 South Orange, NJ 07079

South Orange: median income $195,417, home value $866,600, $473/sq ft, 39-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pleasantville, NY 10570 81%36$183,833$862,300$470 5 min shorter commute · more homeowners · newer homes
Pelham, NY 10803 81%26$215,208$978,600$646 pricier homes ($112K more) · more homeowners · more walkable
Irvington, NY 10533 77%29$174,038$874,400$588 smaller · older residents · more homeowners
Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522 76%27$165,417$765,500$537 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($101K less) · smaller
Port Washington, NY 11050 76%30$154,225$1,035,400$718 lower income ($41K less) · pricier homes ($169K more) · larger
Wynnewood, PA 19096 76%74$186,277$713,100$339 cheaper homes ($154K less) · older residents · 8 min shorter commute
Larchmont, NY 10538 75%29$207,969$1,266,600$807 pricier homes ($400K more) · more homeowners
Hastings On Hudson, NY 10706 75%27$190,833$867,200$619 smaller · older residents · more homeowners
Rockville Centre, NY 11570 75%33$157,163$809,200$536 lower income ($38K less) · cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger
Jericho, NY 11753 74%38$175,781$979,800$593 pricier homes ($113K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Winchester, MA 01890 73%199$230,198$1,215,200$534 higher income ($35K more) · pricier homes ($349K more) · older residents
Milton, MA 02186 73%195$188,033$933,200$547 pricier homes ($67K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Belmont, MA 02478 73%196$183,137$1,159,000$601 pricier homes ($292K more) · older residents · 9 min shorter commute
Narberth, PA 19072 73%73$172,550$819,700$372 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller · older residents
West Roxbury, MA 02132 72%192$138,724$746,100$505 lower income ($57K less) · cheaper homes ($121K less) · older residents
Eastchester, NY 10709 72%28$170,417$847,900$497 lower income ($25K less) · smaller · older residents
Alexandria, VA 22307 72%202$141,667$778,900$425 lower income ($54K less) · cheaper homes ($88K less) · smaller
Arlington, MA 02474 70%198$150,560$933,200$598 lower income ($45K less) · pricier homes ($67K more) · larger
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 70%75$144,471$803,100$388 lower income ($51K less) · cheaper homes ($64K less) · 11 min shorter commute
Kensington, MD 20895 70%191$173,625$781,500$396 cheaper homes ($85K less) · 9 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98136 70%2,392$149,269$925,000$544 lower income ($46K less) · pricier homes ($58K more) · 9 min shorter commute
Arlington, MA 02476 69%197$151,131$934,800$609 lower income ($44K less) · pricier homes ($68K more) · older residents
Seattle, WA 98117 69%2,391$182,984$1,043,500$564 pricier homes ($177K more) · larger · 11 min shorter commute
Melrose, MA 02176 68%203$133,953$822,900$494 lower income ($61K less) · cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
West Newton, MA 02465 68%192$194,265$1,159,200$619 pricier homes ($293K more) · smaller · 13 min shorter commute

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.