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.

Reset

Towns most like Oakhurst, NJ 07755

Oakhurst: median income $134,338, home value $768,400, $582/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Thornwood, NY 10594 85%60$163,542$683,200$506 higher income ($29K more) · cheaper homes ($85K less) · 5 min longer commute
Hawthorne, NY 10532 82%59$141,157$697,600$477 cheaper homes ($71K less) · more walkable
Garden Grove, CA 92845 82%2,443$136,485$926,200$738 pricier homes ($158K more) · larger · older residents
Carle Place, NY 11514 81%40$151,964$722,500$534 cheaper homes ($46K less) · older residents · more walkable
Sayville, NY 11782 81%59$147,672$637,300$507 cheaper homes ($131K less) · larger · older residents
Buchanan, NY 10511 80%69$128,218$525,500$414 cheaper homes ($243K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
East Islip, NY 11730 80%54$145,652$594,200$444 cheaper homes ($174K less) · larger
Southold, NY 11971 80%100$129,507$843,300$587 pricier homes ($75K more) · older residents · less walkable
Greenlawn, NY 11740 79%54$152,386$693,700$461 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger · older residents
Brookhaven, NY 11719 78%69$126,250$658,700$410 cheaper homes ($110K less) · smaller · less walkable
West Sayville, NY 11796 78%58$173,472$594,200$524 higher income ($39K more) · cheaper homes ($174K less) · smaller
Springfield, VA 22151 78%198$156,015$655,800$350 cheaper homes ($113K less) · larger
Lakewood, CA 90712 78%2,447$122,435$829,600$619 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger
Loomis, CA 95650 78%2,485$117,912$751,700$484 larger · older residents · newer homes
Tahoe City, CA 96145 78%2,424$112,875$962,600$704 pricier homes ($194K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Valhalla, NY 10595 77%58$123,438$723,100$451 cheaper homes ($45K less) · more apartments and townhomes
White Plains, NY 10607 77%55$168,603$673,200$454 higher income ($34K more) · cheaper homes ($95K less) · older residents
Pearl River, NY 10965 77%55$132,660$596,700$395 cheaper homes ($172K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Bayport, NY 11705 77%61$164,300$646,500$426 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($122K less) · less walkable
Mattituck, NY 11952 77%93$120,139$764,300$531 older residents · less walkable
West Hills, CA 91307 77%2,464$151,190$963,900$569 pricier homes ($196K more) · larger · older residents
Felton, CA 95018 77%2,570$129,464$838,600$661 pricier homes ($70K more) · older residents · less walkable
Babylon, NY 11702 76%47$137,652$626,900$455 cheaper homes ($142K less) · larger · older residents
Whittier, CA 90603 76%2,437$136,705$859,000$552 pricier homes ($91K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Penngrove, CA 94951 76%2,571$106,332$1,207,000$543 lower income ($28K less) · pricier homes ($439K more) · smaller

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.