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 Hillside, NJ 07205

Hillside: median income $99,528, home value $397,400, $353/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Brockton, MA 02302 88%193$92,274$424,800$366 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · newer homes
Cranston, RI 02910 87%163$90,698$338,700$271 cheaper homes ($59K less) · 6 min shorter commute
North Providence, RI 02911 86%164$89,456$360,200$251 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Villa Park, IL 60181 86%718$92,142$311,500$269 cheaper homes ($86K less) · newer homes
Pawtucket, RI 02861 85%170$83,411$315,400$252 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Stratford, CT 06615 85%66$81,534$364,700$306 cheaper homes ($33K less) · older residents
Willow Grove, PA 19090 84%60$99,928$369,100$256 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Hyattsville, MD 20784 84%186$86,509$369,900$275 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · newer homes
Worcester, MA 01606 83%168$92,105$370,800$317 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Freeport, NY 11520 83%34$121,748$506,100$406 pricier homes ($109K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Des Plaines, IL 60018 83%713$90,574$318,100$272 cheaper homes ($79K less) · older residents · newer homes
Sacramento, CA 95822 83%2,490$86,801$466,000$345 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Worcester, MA 01602 82%165$91,764$417,300$291 Very close on everything we compare
New Bedford, MA 02745 82%184$74,034$368,600$316 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($29K less)
Hatboro, PA 19040 82%58$114,293$384,900$285 Very close on everything we compare
Elmwood Park, IL 60707 82%710$84,799$332,000$234 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger · older residents
Tacoma, WA 98408 82%2,401$80,899$410,500$320 more single-family homes
Haverhill, MA 01830 81%217$78,571$467,000$311 pricier homes ($70K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Levittown, PA 19056 81%51$111,594$378,400$237 older residents
Denver, CO 80221 81%1,615$86,810$472,900$272 pricier homes ($76K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Tacoma, WA 98418 81%2,401$89,706$413,400$272 smaller · more single-family homes · older homes
Lynn, MA 01904 80%209$99,614$560,500$391 pricier homes ($163K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Cranston, RI 02920 80%162$80,717$370,000$280 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Riverdale, MD 20737 80%186$86,951$390,500$286 more renters
Seattle, WA 98168 80%2,392$88,083$548,000$369 pricier homes ($151K more) · larger · more renters

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.