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 Rockaway, NJ 07866

Rockaway: median income $131,403, home value $457,400, $329/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Auburn, MA 01501 94%164$116,762$400,800$299 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Cumberland, RI 02864 94%175$117,522$431,000$281 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
North Kingstown, RI 02852 93%165$118,643$504,900$332 pricier homes ($48K more)
Downers Grove, IL 60516 93%702$115,480$441,100$261 Very close on everything we compare
Chelmsford, MA 01824 92%199$140,050$619,700$384 pricier homes ($162K more)
Milford, CT 06461 91%78$133,221$424,700$299 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Brewster, NY 10509 91%58$116,831$458,300$291 6 min longer commute
Pearl River, NY 10965 91%27$132,660$596,700$395 pricier homes ($139K more)
Southampton, PA 18966 91%57$128,838$488,400$282 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006 91%62$128,295$560,200$257 pricier homes ($103K more)
Morrisville, PA 19067 91%52$133,630$507,900$287 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger
Darien, IL 60561 91%700$112,549$404,300$246 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Tewksbury, MA 01876 90%205$130,204$577,000$382 pricier homes ($120K more) · newer homes
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462 90%69$137,535$471,000$264 Very close on everything we compare
Millbury, MA 01527 89%167$118,790$450,100$285 smaller
Billerica, MA 01821 89%202$149,042$615,100$382 pricier homes ($158K more)
Dracut, MA 01826 89%204$114,196$473,800$353 Very close on everything we compare
Southington, CT 06489 89%97$126,465$379,600$269 cheaper homes ($78K less)
Bethel, CT 06801 89%66$116,541$434,600$296 Very close on everything we compare
Bohemia, NY 11716 89%74$128,889$559,800$385 pricier homes ($102K more) · smaller
North Chelmsford, MA 01863 88%199$144,875$491,600$360 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller
South Easton, MA 02375 88%192$120,903$513,000$348 pricier homes ($56K more) · smaller
North Attleboro, MA 02760 88%180$112,027$478,700$330 Very close on everything we compare
Norton, MA 02766 88%187$124,535$501,400$312 pricier homes ($44K more) · newer homes
Lincoln, RI 02865 88%173$105,958$470,300$260 lower income ($25K 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.