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 Ocean View, NJ 08230

Ocean View: median income $115,152, home value $410,200, $245/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Campton, NH 03223 94%356$118,534$356,400$266 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller
Gilford, NH 03249 93%345$116,635$456,500$334 pricier homes ($46K more)
Suffield, CT 06078 92%220$116,054$412,400$255 larger
Belmont, MI 49306 92%624$115,039$373,500$214 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Mills River, NC 28759 91%506$107,609$444,300$274 pricier homes ($34K more)
Williamsburg, MI 49690 91%672$108,712$352,200$306 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Lee, NH 03861 90%332$131,579$480,600$281 pricier homes ($70K more)
Southampton, MA 01073 89%233$123,125$452,300$303 pricier homes ($42K more)
Goffstown, NH 03045 89%309$119,205$384,600$294 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Mc Gaheysville, VA 22840 89%225$95,667$382,500$257 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Fairview, NC 28730 89%493$102,900$433,300$267 older residents
Solon, IA 52333 89%899$118,721$366,900$177 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Northbridge, MA 01534 88%258$141,250$481,200$265 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($71K more) · more renters
Northford, CT 06472 88%182$105,729$405,200$264 more single-family homes
Harmony, PA 16037 88%309$93,077$348,200$205 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Tarpon Springs, FL 34688 88%891$112,091$510,100$262 pricier homes ($100K more) · 7 min longer commute
Madison Lake, MN 56063 88%1,042$102,391$416,300$297 smaller · more renters
Belchertown, MA 01007 87%243$108,125$371,400$258 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Wyoming, RI 02898 87%225$119,038$424,300$300 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Epsom, NH 03234 87%327$97,941$338,400$251 cheaper homes ($72K less) · 7 min longer commute
Thornton, NH 03285 87%361$90,022$351,900$254 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller
Bowdoinham, ME 04008 87%414$108,479$405,500$330 smaller
Plantsville, CT 06479 87%189$114,346$359,000$261 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger · more renters
Greenfield Center, NY 12833 87%275$102,832$345,600$183 cheaper homes ($65K less) · younger residents
Horse Shoe, NC 28742 87%507$99,007$414,600$237 smaller · more renters

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.