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 Wanaque, NJ 07465

Wanaque: median income $115,159, home value $419,700, $281/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pawling, NY 12564 92%51$111,324$446,800$266 pricier homes ($27K more)
Merrimac, MA 01860 90%208$123,054$553,400$329 pricier homes ($134K more)
Woodbury, CT 06798 89%65$131,480$469,900$250 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
Hampstead, NH 03841 87%203$104,044$510,100$307 pricier homes ($90K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Palos Park, IL 60464 87%704$126,087$460,000$235 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · older residents
South Easton, MA 02375 86%178$120,903$513,000$348 pricier homes ($93K more) · larger · younger residents
Beacon Falls, CT 06403 86%69$101,516$350,300$279 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Valencia, PA 16059 86%296$110,828$408,500$243 larger · younger residents
North Grafton, MA 01536 85%156$115,938$470,800$310 pricier homes ($51K more) · younger residents
Wilton, NH 03086 85%179$113,750$381,600$284 cheaper homes ($38K less) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Goshen, NY 10924 85%24$110,938$454,300$277 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · younger residents
Hopedale, MA 01747 84%160$115,722$466,100$293 pricier homes ($46K more) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Canton, CT 06019 84%90$117,418$390,400$231 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Southbury, CT 06488 84%62$112,887$411,600$244 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Carmel, NY 10512 83%41$117,701$410,500$307 larger · younger residents
Valley Cottage, NY 10989 83%18$134,267$549,700$390 pricier homes ($130K more) · larger
Chester, MD 21619 83%180$107,639$486,600$297 pricier homes ($67K more) · newer homes
Tarpon Springs, FL 34688 83%1,011$112,091$510,100$262 pricier homes ($90K more) · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Berlin, MA 01503 82%164$121,336$616,600$297 pricier homes ($197K more) · smaller · newer homes
Brewster, NY 10509 82%43$116,831$458,300$291 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger · younger residents
Pleasant Valley, NY 12569 82%54$100,846$380,100$246 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger · younger residents
Sterling, MA 01564 81%161$129,063$498,800$327 pricier homes ($79K more) · more single-family homes
Uxbridge, MA 01569 81%154$124,222$443,400$305 larger · younger residents
Bethel, CT 06801 81%51$116,541$434,600$296 larger · younger residents
Palos Heights, IL 60463 81%701$107,977$362,600$216 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger · 6 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.