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 West Long Branch, NJ 07764

West Long Branch: median income $114,271, home value $684,300, $510/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Stamford, CT 06907 81%61$106,379$590,000$421 cheaper homes ($94K less) · older residents
Dallas, TX 75229 79%1,361$121,469$631,700$335 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger · older residents
Orange, CA 92865 79%2,433$127,431$872,700$571 pricier homes ($188K more) · larger · older residents
Atlanta, GA 30317 76%725$107,955$541,100$351 cheaper homes ($143K less) · larger · older residents
Covina, CA 91724 76%2,426$103,163$782,700$494 pricier homes ($98K more) · larger · older residents
Winters, CA 95694 76%2,531$109,696$658,400$360 cheaper homes ($26K less) · older residents · newer homes
La Mesa, CA 91941 75%2,419$115,381$928,700$525 pricier homes ($244K more) · larger · older residents
Seattle, WA 98108 75%2,415$95,780$720,400$423 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · older residents
Seattle, WA 98146 75%2,417$102,520$679,500$451 larger · older residents
Steilacoom, WA 98388 75%2,431$100,851$655,000$377 cheaper homes ($29K less) · older residents · newer homes
Valhalla, NY 10595 73%57$123,438$723,100$451 pricier homes ($39K more) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Leadville, CO 80461 73%1,707$95,775$458,400$402 cheaper homes ($226K less) · older residents · less walkable
Ventura, CA 93004 73%2,489$114,012$800,900$505 pricier homes ($117K more) · larger · older residents
Salt Lake City, UT 84124 72%1,971$120,408$746,600$363 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger · older residents
Orange, CA 92867 72%2,433$130,741$1,015,000$661 pricier homes ($331K more) · larger · older residents
Waltham, MA 02451 71%205$122,335$753,000$487 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger · older residents
Rockville, MD 20851 71%185$126,411$568,900$363 cheaper homes ($115K less) · larger · older residents
Orlando, FL 32804 71%911$113,231$561,000$351 cheaper homes ($123K less) · larger · older residents
Lakewood, CA 90712 71%2,447$122,435$829,600$619 pricier homes ($145K more) · larger · older residents
Pearl River, NY 10965 70%54$132,660$596,700$395 cheaper homes ($88K less) · larger · older residents
Falls Church, VA 22042 70%196$138,255$715,800$426 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · older residents
Denver, CO 80207 70%1,627$115,542$705,200$390 larger · older residents · older homes
San Diego, CA 92119 70%2,418$113,435$879,200$605 pricier homes ($195K more) · larger · older residents
Redlands, CA 92374 70%2,390$102,813$551,600$362 cheaper homes ($133K less) · larger · more renters
Cotati, CA 94931 70%2,573$101,994$820,000$454 pricier homes ($136K more) · older residents · 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.