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 Totowa, NJ 07512

Totowa: median income $113,563, home value $559,300, $401/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lynn, MA 01904 88%200$99,614$560,500$391 larger
Valhalla, NY 10595 87%26$123,438$723,100$451 pricier homes ($164K more) · smaller
Tacoma, WA 98406 87%2,397$104,264$638,400$347 pricier homes ($79K more) · larger · more renters
Seattle, WA 98166 86%2,388$114,969$824,400$420 pricier homes ($265K more) · larger
Saugus, MA 01906 85%197$101,539$603,400$393 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger
Seattle, WA 98146 85%2,388$102,520$679,500$451 pricier homes ($120K more) · larger
Rumford, RI 02916 84%162$95,263$404,100$273 cheaper homes ($155K less)
Stamford, CT 06907 84%39$106,379$590,000$421 pricier homes ($31K more)
Seattle, WA 98178 84%2,383$99,505$660,400$367 pricier homes ($101K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Tacoma, WA 98407 83%2,397$110,288$656,600$414 pricier homes ($97K more) · larger · newer homes
Bristol, RI 02809 82%162$97,764$485,000$387 cheaper homes ($74K less) · larger · less walkable
La Grange Park, IL 60526 82%710$120,308$439,800$308 cheaper homes ($120K less)
Chicago, IL 60631 82%707$115,000$436,400$280 cheaper homes ($123K less) · larger
Islip, NY 11751 81%53$116,559$563,100$434 less walkable
Abington, PA 19001 81%72$108,042$363,000$270 cheaper homes ($196K less) · larger
Hatboro, PA 19040 81%69$114,293$384,900$285 cheaper homes ($174K less) · larger · less walkable
Rockville, MD 20851 81%199$126,411$568,900$363 7 min longer commute · more renters
Braintree, MA 02184 80%189$122,214$656,800$428 pricier homes ($98K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Avon, MA 02322 80%185$130,625$509,600$335 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller · less walkable
Fairhaven, MA 02719 80%180$95,965$446,700$339 cheaper homes ($113K less) · older residents · less walkable
Warwick, RI 02888 80%157$91,867$350,000$317 cheaper homes ($209K less) · larger
Farmingdale, NY 11735 80%43$139,443$591,500$501 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Broomall, PA 19008 80%88$119,698$500,300$274 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
Arvada, CO 80004 80%1,620$103,659$616,700$268 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger · newer homes
Cloverdale, CA 95425 80%2,558$119,092$653,200$440 pricier homes ($94K more) · less walkable · 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.