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 Madison, NJ 07940

Madison: median income $172,708, home value $940,900, $609/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seattle, WA 98199 86%2,384$180,789$1,198,700$629 pricier homes ($258K more) · more walkable
Seattle, WA 98136 85%2,384$149,269$925,000$544 older residents · more walkable
Cos Cob, CT 06807 84%48$192,115$1,443,200$722 pricier homes ($502K more) · smaller
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 84%70$144,471$803,100$388 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($138K less)
Falls Church, VA 22046 83%196$168,882$1,014,700$476 pricier homes ($74K more) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Bedford, MA 01730 82%201$172,400$898,500$496 cheaper homes ($42K less) · older residents · newer homes
Needham Heights, MA 02494 82%196$179,720$1,107,700$530 pricier homes ($167K more) · smaller · older residents
Pleasantville, NY 10570 82%42$183,833$862,300$470 cheaper homes ($79K less) · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Vienna, VA 22180 82%198$177,111$941,400$423 larger · more walkable · newer homes
Auburndale, MA 02466 80%197$170,089$1,174,000$561 pricier homes ($233K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Wayne, PA 19087 80%71$171,179$748,200$364 cheaper homes ($193K less) · larger · older residents
Seattle, WA 98115 80%2,379$156,142$1,094,600$578 pricier homes ($154K more) · larger · more walkable
Dallas, TX 75214 79%1,347$132,313$777,100$431 lower income ($40K less) · cheaper homes ($164K less) · larger
Natick, MA 01760 78%190$138,563$821,300$454 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($120K less) · larger
Devon, PA 19333 78%72$173,107$760,700$386 cheaper homes ($180K less) · smaller · older residents
Bellevue, WA 98008 78%2,371$184,583$1,206,200$671 pricier homes ($265K more) · larger · older residents
Seattle, WA 98117 78%2,383$182,984$1,043,500$564 pricier homes ($103K more) · larger · more walkable
Falls Church, VA 22043 77%195$145,881$881,600$456 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($59K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Boulder, CO 80305 77%1,616$126,107$1,032,900$578 lower income ($47K less) · pricier homes ($92K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Port Washington, NY 11050 76%38$154,225$1,035,400$718 pricier homes ($95K more) · larger · older residents
Oyster Bay, NY 11771 76%47$157,923$936,300$484 smaller · older residents
Arlington, VA 22213 76%194$199,306$1,064,500$507 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($124K more) · smaller
Miami, FL 33156 76%1,096$137,076$1,120,100$619 lower income ($36K less) · pricier homes ($179K more) · larger
Sierra Madre, CA 91024 76%2,411$143,547$1,226,800$764 lower income ($29K less) · pricier homes ($286K more) · smaller
Claremont, CA 91711 76%2,395$126,056$894,300$503 lower income ($47K less) · cheaper homes ($47K less) · 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.