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 Closter, NJ 07624

Closter: median income $190,469, home value $871,300, $541/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Old Bethpage, NY 11804 93%30$190,469$848,500$534 smaller
Locust Valley, NY 11560 88%20$163,750$952,700$562 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($81K more) · older residents
Glen Head, NY 11545 87%21$182,528$1,101,100$601 pricier homes ($230K more) · older residents
Fairfield, CT 06824 84%38$193,300$869,100$526 larger
Pleasantville, NY 10570 84%14$183,833$862,300$470 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Great Neck, NY 11020 84%19$167,148$1,132,200$750 pricier homes ($261K more) · smaller
Alexandria, VA 22308 83%226$212,545$914,400$420 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger · more homeowners
Lynnfield, MA 01940 82%185$173,214$905,400$418 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · less walkable
Topsfield, MA 01983 82%193$195,718$853,400$402 6 min shorter commute
Barrington, RI 02806 82%147$153,198$644,100$426 lower income ($37K less) · cheaper homes ($227K less) · larger
Greenlawn, NY 11740 82%32$152,386$693,700$461 lower income ($38K less) · cheaper homes ($178K less)
Norwell, MA 02061 81%182$188,699$865,700$425 less walkable
Westwood, MA 02090 81%166$223,125$1,041,500$493 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($170K more) · larger
Oyster Bay, NY 11771 81%24$157,923$936,300$484 lower income ($33K less) · pricier homes ($65K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Syosset, NY 11791 81%26$202,962$937,700$606 pricier homes ($66K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Seattle, WA 98177 81%2,396$169,918$1,048,900$544 pricier homes ($178K more) · larger · older residents
Reading, MA 01867 80%182$165,912$809,000$473 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Milton, MA 02186 80%173$188,033$933,200$547 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Commack, NY 11725 80%37$168,281$670,000$463 cheaper homes ($201K less) · larger
Plainview, NY 11803 80%28$187,514$800,200$575 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger · older residents
Kensington, MD 20895 80%213$173,625$781,500$396 cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger · more walkable
Albertson, NY 11507 79%21$164,028$860,000$598 lower income ($26K less) · older residents · more walkable
Roslyn Heights, NY 11577 79%21$182,674$988,300$581 pricier homes ($117K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Woodmere, NY 11598 79%27$190,074$1,039,300$525 pricier homes ($168K more) · larger · younger residents
Brightwaters, NY 11718 79%40$218,000$768,600$441 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($103K less) · smaller

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.