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 Cedar Knolls, NJ 07927

Cedar Knolls: median income $170,400, home value $646,700, $392/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dallas, TX 75209 77%1,349$134,707$864,200$391 lower income ($36K less) · pricier homes ($218K more) · larger
Stamford, CT 06905 73%51$136,757$618,400$413 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Fort Washington, PA 19034 73%61$165,354$627,500$292 larger · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Dallas, TX 75244 72%1,347$120,286$617,800$322 lower income ($50K less) · cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Bedford, MA 01730 71%200$172,400$898,500$496 pricier homes ($252K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Waltham, MA 02451 71%198$122,335$753,000$487 lower income ($48K less) · pricier homes ($106K more) · larger
Shrub Oak, NY 10588 71%48$178,977$526,100$314 cheaper homes ($121K less) · smaller · 11 min longer commute
Devon, PA 19333 71%74$173,107$760,700$386 pricier homes ($114K more) · larger
Falls Church, VA 22043 71%197$145,881$881,600$456 pricier homes ($235K more) · larger
Neptune Beach, FL 32266 71%824$119,294$670,900$391 lower income ($51K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Tampa, FL 33609 71%1,000$115,844$605,600$361 lower income ($55K less) · cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Norwalk, CT 06850 70%57$123,633$581,200$390 lower income ($47K less) · cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger
Columbia, MD 21046 70%171$127,813$479,500$252 lower income ($43K less) · cheaper homes ($167K less) · larger
Saint Paul, MN 55120 70%985$116,346$515,600$249 lower income ($54K less) · cheaper homes ($131K less) · less walkable
Mukilteo, WA 98275 70%2,374$132,861$884,900$418 lower income ($38K less) · pricier homes ($238K more) · larger
Lafayette Hill, PA 19444 69%66$147,418$537,400$279 cheaper homes ($109K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Charlotte, NC 28211 69%521$132,917$774,900$360 lower income ($37K less) · pricier homes ($128K more) · larger
Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 69%826$117,724$582,400$386 lower income ($53K less) · cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger
Lake Oswego, OR 97035 68%2,418$130,603$837,100$364 lower income ($40K less) · pricier homes ($190K more) · larger
Portland, OR 97225 68%2,420$114,598$751,700$319 lower income ($56K less) · pricier homes ($105K more) · larger
Westborough, MA 01581 67%178$141,944$685,300$394 lower income ($28K less) · pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
North Chelmsford, MA 01863 67%202$144,875$491,600$360 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($155K less) · larger
Arlington, VA 22213 67%196$199,306$1,064,500$507 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($418K more) · 7 min longer commute
Lake Bluff, IL 60044 67%699$134,724$599,900$331 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Bothell, WA 98011 67%2,371$131,667$933,000$486 lower income ($39K less) · pricier homes ($286K more) · larger

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.