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 Montvale, NJ 07645

Montvale: median income $178,269, home value $709,700, $466/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Oyster Bay, NY 11771 91%30$157,923$936,300$484 pricier homes ($227K more)
Millis, MA 02054 86%158$155,996$603,500$369 cheaper homes ($106K less) · older residents
Greenlawn, NY 11740 86%37$152,386$693,700$461 lower income ($26K less) · more single-family homes
Sayville, NY 11782 86%54$147,672$637,300$507 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger
North Reading, MA 01864 85%185$147,768$710,500$425 lower income ($31K less) · larger
Reading, MA 01867 85%182$165,912$809,000$473 pricier homes ($99K more) · larger
Walpole, MA 02081 85%163$156,250$687,500$396 larger
Port Jefferson, NY 11777 85%51$150,505$680,200$382 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($30K less)
Lynnfield, MA 01940 84%186$173,214$905,400$418 pricier homes ($196K more)
Hanover, MA 02339 84%180$189,803$755,400$385 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Mohegan Lake, NY 10547 84%21$162,605$504,600$435 cheaper homes ($205K less) · 7 min longer commute
Bayport, NY 11705 84%56$164,300$646,500$426 cheaper homes ($63K less) · more single-family homes
Fort Washington, PA 19034 84%88$165,354$627,500$292 cheaper homes ($82K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Medway, MA 02053 83%155$173,750$617,300$337 cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Pearl River, NY 10965 83%1$132,660$596,700$395 lower income ($46K less) · cheaper homes ($113K less) · larger
Hauppauge, NY 11788 83%47$149,726$653,900$414 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger
Chelmsford, MA 01824 82%174$140,050$619,700$384 lower income ($38K less) · cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger
Pleasantville, NY 10570 82%14$183,833$862,300$470 pricier homes ($153K more)
Burlington, MA 01803 81%178$146,436$740,600$441 lower income ($32K less) · pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Congers, NY 10920 81%9$145,567$582,800$375 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($127K less) · older residents
Saint James, NY 11780 81%47$144,577$723,200$466 lower income ($34K less) · larger · older residents
Littleton, MA 01460 80%167$149,722$658,300$374 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($51K less) · more single-family homes
Georgetown, MA 01833 80%195$153,750$653,500$360 cheaper homes ($56K less) · more single-family homes · less walkable
North Chelmsford, MA 01863 80%175$144,875$491,600$360 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($218K less)
Ipswich, MA 01938 80%199$138,750$745,400$421 lower income ($40K less) · pricier homes ($36K 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.