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 Belmar, NJ 07719

Belmar: median income $119,828, home value $700,900, $488/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Burlington, MA 01803 93%220$146,436$740,600$441 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($40K more)
Danvers, MA 01923 93%232$125,395$644,200$428 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Dedham, MA 02026 93%208$128,955$661,800$448 cheaper homes ($39K less) · older homes
Benicia, CA 94510 91%2,550$121,204$810,000$431 pricier homes ($109K more) · newer homes
Novato, CA 94947 91%2,571$128,766$1,017,600$602 pricier homes ($317K more)
Santa Rosa, CA 95405 91%2,568$118,299$788,000$455 pricier homes ($87K more)
Seattle, WA 98166 91%2,419$114,969$824,400$420 pricier homes ($124K more)
Tacoma, WA 98407 91%2,427$110,288$656,600$414 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Stoneham, MA 02180 90%222$113,964$671,900$437 cheaper homes ($29K less) · younger residents
San Diego, CA 92119 90%2,416$113,435$879,200$605 pricier homes ($178K more) · younger residents
Edmonds, WA 98026 90%2,415$133,638$821,700$450 pricier homes ($121K more) · larger · younger residents
San Pedro, CA 90732 89%2,457$120,807$857,000$483 pricier homes ($156K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Santa Rosa, CA 95409 89%2,566$107,867$802,000$445 pricier homes ($101K more)
Seattle, WA 98155 89%2,414$131,540$816,400$460 pricier homes ($116K more) · larger · younger residents
Portsmouth, RI 02871 88%177$116,831$597,000$392 cheaper homes ($104K less)
Valhalla, NY 10595 88%65$123,438$723,100$451 smaller · younger residents
North Kingstown, RI 02852 87%168$118,643$504,900$332 cheaper homes ($196K less)
Wakefield, RI 02879 87%159$112,231$564,700$445 cheaper homes ($136K less)
Sayville, NY 11782 87%65$147,672$637,300$507 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller
La Mesa, CA 91941 87%2,416$115,381$928,700$525 pricier homes ($228K more) · larger · younger residents
Martinez, CA 94553 87%2,551$124,130$825,900$473 pricier homes ($125K more) · larger · younger residents
Novato, CA 94945 87%2,570$107,790$1,124,100$560 pricier homes ($423K more)
Pearl River, NY 10965 86%62$132,660$596,700$395 cheaper homes ($104K less) · younger residents
Boca Raton, FL 33486 86%1,016$105,540$664,100$530 cheaper homes ($37K less) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Phoenix, AZ 85028 86%2,129$125,054$642,200$365 cheaper homes ($59K less)

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.