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.

Reset

Towns most like Emerson, NJ 07630

Emerson: median income $155,536, home value $645,200, $413/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
White Plains, NY 10607 92%12$168,603$673,200$454 pricier homes ($28K more)
Hawthorne, NY 10532 90%15$141,157$697,600$477 pricier homes ($52K more) · younger residents
Thornwood, NY 10594 89%17$163,542$683,200$506 pricier homes ($38K more) · younger residents
Springfield, VA 22151 89%226$156,015$655,800$350 larger · younger residents
Babylon, NY 11702 87%42$137,652$626,900$455 larger
Massapequa Park, NY 11762 84%37$169,624$641,000$508 larger · younger residents
West Nyack, NY 10994 83%9$170,307$620,200$392 cheaper homes ($25K less) · 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Albertson, NY 11507 83%24$164,028$860,000$598 pricier homes ($215K more) · 7 min longer commute
Carle Place, NY 11514 83%27$151,964$722,500$534 pricier homes ($77K more) · smaller · more renters
Malverne, NY 11565 83%28$148,049$642,400$530 older homes
Bayville, NY 11709 83%25$149,191$710,000$454 pricier homes ($65K more) · 6 min longer commute · less walkable
Greenlawn, NY 11740 83%36$152,386$693,700$461 pricier homes ($49K more) · less walkable
Oceanside, NY 11572 82%31$148,790$634,500$487 larger · 5 min longer commute
Tappan, NY 10983 81%5$160,170$610,900$413 cheaper homes ($34K less) · less walkable
Old Lyme, CT 06371 79%93$132,045$499,400$372 cheaper homes ($146K less) · less walkable
Bellmore, NY 11710 79%33$173,054$672,500$510 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · younger residents
East Northport, NY 11731 79%38$161,132$646,600$459 larger · less walkable
Wantagh, NY 11793 79%34$167,068$659,500$503 larger · younger residents
Barrington, RI 02806 78%150$153,198$644,100$426 larger · younger residents · less walkable
Rockville, MD 20853 78%208$159,080$631,900$302 larger · younger residents
Seattle, WA 98177 78%2,393$169,918$1,048,900$544 pricier homes ($404K more) · larger
Old Saybrook, CT 06475 77%88$114,333$538,200$434 lower income ($41K less) · cheaper homes ($107K less) · older residents
Locust Valley, NY 11560 77%24$163,750$952,700$562 pricier homes ($308K more) · 5 min longer commute · less walkable
Saint James, NY 11780 77%46$144,577$723,200$466 pricier homes ($78K more) · larger · less walkable
Plainview, NY 11803 77%32$187,514$800,200$575 higher income ($32K more) · pricier homes ($155K 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.