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 Plainfield, NJ 07080

South Plainfield: median income $130,205, home value $470,900, $386/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Farmingdale, NY 11735 93%52$139,443$591,500$501 pricier homes ($121K more)
Bethpage, NY 11714 91%50$120,172$600,700$496 pricier homes ($130K more)
Broomall, PA 19008 90%65$119,698$500,300$274 pricier homes ($29K more)
Deer Park, NY 11729 89%58$136,939$539,700$455 pricier homes ($69K more) · less walkable
Lindenhurst, NY 11757 89%55$127,889$508,100$439 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
Springfield, PA 19064 89%66$136,893$414,500$286 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Rockville, MD 20853 87%176$159,080$631,900$302 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($161K more)
Springfield, VA 22151 87%193$156,015$655,800$350 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($185K more)
Riverside, CA 92506 87%2,382$121,459$669,500$384 pricier homes ($199K more) · larger
Braintree, MA 02184 86%210$122,214$656,800$428 pricier homes ($186K more) · larger
West Babylon, NY 11704 86%56$129,195$527,500$459 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger
Abington, PA 19001 86%49$108,042$363,000$270 cheaper homes ($108K less)
Morton Grove, IL 60053 86%701$111,116$389,100$284 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Stratford, CT 06614 85%80$110,943$374,800$293 cheaper homes ($96K less)
East Meadow, NY 11554 85%46$133,971$631,800$560 pricier homes ($161K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Babylon, NY 11702 85%58$137,652$626,900$455 pricier homes ($156K more) · smaller · older residents
North Babylon, NY 11703 85%58$137,158$521,700$424 pricier homes ($51K more) · 6 min longer commute · less walkable
Bowie, MD 20715 85%166$143,732$452,600$257 Very close on everything we compare
Chicago, IL 60655 85%695$114,723$324,300$257 cheaper homes ($147K less)
Pearl River, NY 10965 84%39$132,660$596,700$395 pricier homes ($126K more) · smaller · less walkable
Skokie, IL 60076 84%698$113,818$396,200$278 cheaper homes ($75K less)
Brookfield, IL 60513 84%703$110,338$332,400$267 cheaper homes ($139K less)
Carson, CA 90746 84%2,431$113,364$770,100$503 pricier homes ($299K more)
Auburn, MA 01501 83%174$116,762$400,800$299 cheaper homes ($70K less) · less walkable
Lynn, MA 01904 83%222$99,614$560,500$391 lower income ($31K less) · pricier homes ($90K more) · older 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.