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 Paramus, NJ 07652

Paramus: median income $144,349, home value $813,900, $504/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
West Hills, CA 91307 94%2,458$151,190$963,900$569 pricier homes ($150K more)
Babylon, NY 11702 91%43$137,652$626,900$455 cheaper homes ($187K less) · smaller
Oceanside, NY 11572 88%31$148,790$634,500$487 cheaper homes ($179K less) · 5 min longer commute
Cerritos, CA 90703 88%2,438$134,987$932,400$636 pricier homes ($119K more) · larger
East Meadow, NY 11554 87%31$133,971$631,800$560 cheaper homes ($182K less) · younger residents
Springfield, VA 22151 87%223$156,015$655,800$350 cheaper homes ($158K less) · smaller · younger residents
Garden Grove, CA 92845 87%2,438$136,485$926,200$738 pricier homes ($112K more) · smaller
Farmingdale, NY 11735 86%36$139,443$591,500$501 cheaper homes ($222K less) · younger residents
Glendora, CA 91741 86%2,418$127,440$946,900$558 pricier homes ($133K more) · younger residents
Massapequa, NY 11758 85%37$154,110$653,800$504 cheaper homes ($160K less) · larger · younger residents
Hicksville, NY 11801 85%31$145,788$625,100$528 cheaper homes ($189K less) · larger · younger residents
Sacramento, CA 95864 85%2,487$127,953$810,400$439 7 min shorter commute
White Plains, NY 10607 84%15$168,603$673,200$454 cheaper homes ($141K less) · smaller
Bethpage, NY 11714 84%34$120,172$600,700$496 cheaper homes ($213K less)
Seattle, WA 98177 84%2,392$169,918$1,048,900$544 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($235K more)
Bellmore, NY 11710 83%34$173,054$672,500$510 higher income ($29K more) · cheaper homes ($141K less) · younger residents
Greenlawn, NY 11740 83%37$152,386$693,700$461 cheaper homes ($120K less) · smaller · less walkable
Saint James, NY 11780 83%48$144,577$723,200$466 cheaper homes ($91K less) · smaller · less walkable
Walnut, CA 91789 83%2,422$125,720$975,000$612 pricier homes ($161K more) · larger · newer homes
Burlington, MA 01803 82%183$146,436$740,600$441 cheaper homes ($73K less) · less walkable
New Hyde Park, NY 11040 82%25$154,696$808,500$646 larger · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
East Northport, NY 11731 82%40$161,132$646,600$459 cheaper homes ($167K less) · 5 min longer commute · less walkable
Huntington Station, NY 11746 82%38$164,589$695,200$444 cheaper homes ($119K less) · larger · less walkable
Sayville, NY 11782 82%53$147,672$637,300$507 cheaper homes ($177K less) · smaller · less walkable
Phoenix, AZ 85028 82%2,130$125,054$642,200$365 cheaper homes ($172K less) · 6 min shorter commute · 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.