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 Park Ridge, NJ 07656

Park Ridge: median income $171,029, home value $706,200, $429/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sayville, NY 11782 91%54$147,672$637,300$507 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger
Burlington, MA 01803 90%178$146,436$740,600$441 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Fort Washington, PA 19034 90%87$165,354$627,500$292 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Millis, MA 02054 88%159$155,996$603,500$369 cheaper homes ($103K less) · less walkable
Saint James, NY 11780 88%47$144,577$723,200$466 lower income ($26K less) · larger
East Greenwich, RI 02818 87%140$139,217$613,500$342 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($93K less) · larger
Reading, MA 01867 86%183$165,912$809,000$473 pricier homes ($103K more) · larger
Essex, MA 01929 86%201$156,442$902,000$416 pricier homes ($196K more) · smaller
Bayport, NY 11705 86%55$164,300$646,500$426 cheaper homes ($60K less) · less walkable
Greenlawn, NY 11740 86%37$152,386$693,700$461 8 min longer commute
Oyster Bay, NY 11771 86%29$157,923$936,300$484 pricier homes ($230K more) · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Port Jefferson, NY 11777 86%51$150,505$680,200$382 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Chelmsford, MA 01824 85%175$140,050$619,700$384 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($87K less) · larger
Congers, NY 10920 85%9$145,567$582,800$375 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($123K less) · less walkable
East Setauket, NY 11733 85%49$173,281$683,400$408 larger · less walkable
Springfield, VA 22151 85%228$156,015$655,800$350 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger
Hauppauge, NY 11788 84%46$149,726$653,900$414 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger · less walkable
Bedford, MA 01730 83%174$172,400$898,500$496 pricier homes ($192K more) · larger · more renters
Ipswich, MA 01938 83%200$138,750$745,400$421 lower income ($32K less) · pricier homes ($39K more) · less walkable
Rowley, MA 01969 83%199$132,734$667,300$375 lower income ($38K less) · cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller
Medway, MA 02053 83%156$173,750$617,300$337 cheaper homes ($89K less) · younger residents
West Nyack, NY 10994 83%5$170,307$620,200$392 cheaper homes ($86K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Babylon, NY 11702 83%44$137,652$626,900$455 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($79K less) · 6 min longer commute
Framingham, MA 01701 82%161$137,094$644,300$395 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger
Pearl River, NY 10965 82%2$132,660$596,700$395 lower income ($38K less) · cheaper homes ($110K less) · 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.