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 Fair Lawn, NJ 07410

Fair Lawn: median income $144,574, home value $564,700, $462/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Elmhurst, IL 60126 89%719$147,566$540,300$360 newer homes
Park Ridge, IL 60068 88%714$143,222$551,700$325 older residents
Farmingdale, NY 11735 87%38$139,443$591,500$501 pricier homes ($27K more)
West Roxbury, MA 02132 86%179$138,724$746,100$505 pricier homes ($181K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Fairfield, CT 06825 86%49$135,504$630,600$395 pricier homes ($66K more) · smaller · less walkable
Havertown, PA 19083 85%91$124,523$452,100$315 cheaper homes ($113K less)
Silver Spring, MD 20901 85%202$131,386$589,800$337 pricier homes ($25K more)
Kensington, MD 20895 84%205$173,625$781,500$396 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($217K more) · smaller
Chicago, IL 60646 84%709$112,525$503,900$311 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($61K less)
Denver, CO 80207 84%1,616$115,542$705,200$390 lower income ($29K less) · pricier homes ($141K more) · smaller
Mineola, NY 11501 83%28$137,665$655,500$522 pricier homes ($91K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Rockville Centre, NY 11570 83%31$157,163$809,200$536 pricier homes ($245K more) · 6 min longer commute
Dedham, MA 02026 82%177$128,955$661,800$448 pricier homes ($97K more) · older residents · less walkable
Braintree, MA 02184 82%184$122,214$656,800$428 pricier homes ($92K more)
East Meadow, NY 11554 82%33$133,971$631,800$560 pricier homes ($67K more)
Houston, TX 77018 82%1,419$127,017$584,600$329 newer homes
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 81%725$137,658$514,300$290 cheaper homes ($50K less) · newer homes
Floral Park, NY 11001 80%26$150,000$765,000$563 pricier homes ($200K more) · 6 min longer commute · older homes
Valley Stream, NY 11581 80%29$142,233$671,700$489 pricier homes ($107K more) · smaller · 9 min longer commute
Glenside, PA 19038 80%79$117,683$413,100$282 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($152K less)
Wakefield, MA 01880 79%191$134,306$723,500$468 pricier homes ($159K more) · more apartments and townhomes · less walkable
Bellmore, NY 11710 79%35$173,054$672,500$510 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($108K more) · more homeowners
Falls Church, VA 22042 79%217$138,255$715,800$426 pricier homes ($151K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Springfield, VA 22151 79%220$156,015$655,800$350 pricier homes ($91K more) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98136 79%2,393$149,269$925,000$544 pricier homes ($360K more) · smaller · 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.