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 Long Branch, NJ 07740

Long Branch: median income $79,870, home value $578,800, $453/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Concord, CA 94520 96%2,548$82,479$601,000$468 Very close on everything we compare
Framingham, MA 01702 94%191$82,496$583,000$340 Very close on everything we compare
Denver, CO 80214 94%1,636$75,575$559,100$387 Very close on everything we compare
Gardena, CA 90247 94%2,455$77,333$659,100$453 pricier homes ($80K more)
Norwalk, CT 06854 93%62$86,679$460,500$436 cheaper homes ($118K less)
Upland, CA 91786 91%2,416$92,458$641,600$435 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger
Miami, FL 33166 90%1,063$81,581$530,300$453 cheaper homes ($49K less)
New Rochelle, NY 10801 88%44$85,573$575,300$378 older homes
Alexandria, VA 22306 88%196$97,132$594,000$343 Very close on everything we compare
Inglewood, CA 90302 88%2,456$73,777$738,900$459 pricier homes ($160K more) · more renters
Everett, WA 98201 88%2,407$74,554$499,800$384 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Seattle, WA 98188 87%2,415$76,438$456,400$323 cheaper homes ($122K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Revere, MA 02151 86%213$86,969$597,400$421 larger
Hialeah, FL 33014 86%1,059$77,338$424,200$327 cheaper homes ($155K less)
Van Nuys, CA 91406 86%2,457$78,429$808,900$571 pricier homes ($230K more) · larger
El Cajon, CA 92020 86%2,417$76,032$813,100$522 pricier homes ($234K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Escondido, CA 92025 86%2,413$81,106$827,900$479 pricier homes ($249K more) · larger
Anaheim, CA 92801 86%2,439$83,725$691,400$552 pricier homes ($113K more) · larger
Kent, WA 98032 86%2,416$82,636$520,800$327 cheaper homes ($58K less) · newer homes
Lowell, MA 01854 85%213$72,709$412,000$330 cheaper homes ($167K less)
Buena Park, CA 90621 85%2,440$97,612$832,000$556 pricier homes ($253K more)
Harbor City, CA 90710 85%2,458$82,478$689,300$553 pricier homes ($111K more) · more homeowners
Alhambra, CA 91801 85%2,441$89,156$834,000$576 pricier homes ($255K more) · larger
Port Hueneme, CA 93041 85%2,495$90,592$586,600$465 7 min shorter commute
Federal Way, WA 98003 85%2,417$75,319$476,600$314 cheaper homes ($102K less) · larger · 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.