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 Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442

Pompton Lakes: median income $124,454, home value $442,400, $348/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Montrose, NY 10548 90%25$142,273$426,000$403 smaller
Abington, PA 19001 90%74$108,042$363,000$270 cheaper homes ($79K less) · larger
Hatboro, PA 19040 90%71$114,293$384,900$285 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger
North Chelmsford, MA 01863 89%187$144,875$491,600$360 pricier homes ($49K more)
Pearl River, NY 10965 88%15$132,660$596,700$395 pricier homes ($154K more) · less walkable
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462 88%81$137,535$471,000$264 pricier homes ($29K more)
Auburn, MA 01501 87%151$116,762$400,800$299 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · older residents
La Grange Park, IL 60526 87%706$120,308$439,800$308 Very close on everything we compare
Millbury, MA 01527 86%154$118,790$450,100$285 less walkable
Valhalla, NY 10595 86%27$123,438$723,100$451 pricier homes ($281K more) · smaller
Islip, NY 11751 86%59$116,559$563,100$434 pricier homes ($121K more) · older residents
Haverhill, MA 01835 85%205$113,578$468,800$311 pricier homes ($26K more) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Avon, MA 02322 85%185$130,625$509,600$335 pricier homes ($67K more) · smaller
Brookfield, IL 60513 85%704$110,338$332,400$267 cheaper homes ($110K less) · larger
Chicago, IL 60631 85%702$115,000$436,400$280 larger
Abington, MA 02351 84%189$125,400$539,600$350 pricier homes ($97K more) · larger · less walkable
Broomall, PA 19008 84%90$119,698$500,300$274 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Cheltenham, PA 19012 84%78$125,625$344,700$205 cheaper homes ($98K less) · smaller
Levittown, PA 19056 84%66$111,594$378,400$237 cheaper homes ($64K less)
La Grange, IL 60525 84%705$116,918$438,000$296 larger
Dracut, MA 01826 83%192$114,196$473,800$353 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · less walkable
Bellingham, MA 02019 83%163$125,307$450,700$282 larger · 7 min longer commute · less walkable
Braintree, MA 02184 83%189$122,214$656,800$428 pricier homes ($214K more) · larger
Rockland, MA 02370 83%191$112,405$472,900$353 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · less walkable
North Attleboro, MA 02760 83%167$112,027$478,700$330 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger

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.