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 Wayne, NJ 07470

Wayne: median income $153,056, home value $612,700, $382/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Elmhurst, IL 60126 96%712$147,566$540,300$360 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 92%718$137,658$514,300$290 cheaper homes ($98K less)
Annandale, VA 22003 91%215$138,794$732,400$338 pricier homes ($120K more)
Framingham, MA 01701 90%173$137,094$644,300$395 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller
Chelmsford, MA 01824 90%187$140,050$619,700$384 smaller · less walkable
Seattle, WA 98155 90%2,381$131,540$816,400$460 pricier homes ($204K more)
Burlington, MA 01803 89%191$146,436$740,600$441 pricier homes ($128K more) · smaller · older residents
Park Ridge, IL 60068 89%707$143,222$551,700$325 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Edmonds, WA 98026 88%2,381$133,638$821,700$450 pricier homes ($209K more)
Dedham, MA 02026 87%183$128,955$661,800$448 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller
Fairfield, CT 06825 87%55$135,504$630,600$395 smaller
Falls Church, VA 22042 87%212$138,255$715,800$426 pricier homes ($103K more) · smaller
Glenview, IL 60025 87%706$126,904$521,000$347 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($92K less) · older residents
Shrewsbury, MA 01545 86%160$139,302$592,300$353 newer homes
Braintree, MA 02184 86%189$122,214$656,800$428 lower income ($31K less) · pricier homes ($44K more)
East Greenwich, RI 02818 86%152$139,217$613,500$342 smaller
Farmingdale, NY 11735 86%45$139,443$591,500$501 smaller
Ambler, PA 19002 86%73$143,600$602,100$292 smaller
Morrisville, PA 19067 86%59$133,630$507,900$287 cheaper homes ($105K less)
Silver Spring, MD 20901 86%198$131,386$589,800$337 Very close on everything we compare
Downers Grove, IL 60515 86%715$123,197$461,200$308 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($152K less) · smaller
Rockville, MD 20853 85%198$159,080$631,900$302 smaller · more single-family homes
Pearl River, NY 10965 84%14$132,660$596,700$395 smaller
Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006 84%71$128,295$560,200$257 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller
Burke, VA 22015 84%219$172,563$696,500$346 pricier homes ($84K more) · more apartments and townhomes · newer 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.