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 Forked River, NJ 08731

Forked River: median income $98,582, home value $404,200, $330/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Gardnerville, NV 89460 88%2,406$92,292$501,700$368 pricier homes ($98K more)
Westport, MA 02790 87%204$97,250$507,900$350 pricier homes ($104K more)
Wolcott, CT 06716 86%137$111,225$325,300$236 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Pinckney, MI 48169 84%536$109,329$373,400$236 cheaper homes ($31K less) · less walkable
Charlton, MA 01507 83%197$117,587$427,500$272 smaller
Somerset, MA 02726 83%207$111,046$419,000$345 older homes
Swansea, MA 02777 83%204$116,364$445,000$356 pricier homes ($41K more) · 7 min shorter commute · older homes
Buxton, ME 04093 83%323$100,144$356,800$332 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Shirley, NY 11967 83%96$111,617$419,100$387 younger residents
Stevensville, MD 21666 83%130$123,645$494,300$278 higher income ($25K more) · pricier homes ($90K more) · smaller
Selden, NY 11784 82%93$104,369$460,300$365 pricier homes ($56K more) · younger residents · older homes
Hampstead, MD 21074 82%143$108,536$378,100$217 cheaper homes ($26K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Gloucester, VA 23061 82%210$91,626$344,500$239 cheaper homes ($60K less) · less walkable
Merritt Island, FL 32952 82%880$102,726$425,700$253 6 min shorter commute
Mchenry, IL 60051 82%750$100,762$278,400$205 cheaper homes ($126K less)
Pollock Pines, CA 95726 82%2,451$91,128$424,200$259 smaller
Seekonk, MA 02771 81%204$120,613$482,800$314 pricier homes ($79K more) · older homes
Boonsboro, MD 21713 81%187$96,199$369,200$207 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller · less walkable
Powhatan, VA 23139 81%256$110,349$405,000$249 less walkable · newer homes
Debary, FL 32713 81%858$88,500$349,400$203 cheaper homes ($55K less) · newer homes
Metamora, MI 48455 81%517$103,835$367,900$235 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller · less walkable
Salem, WI 53168 81%747$97,035$300,200$243 cheaper homes ($104K less) · smaller
Waterford, WI 53185 81%753$103,225$384,600$246 more apartments and townhomes · less walkable
Placerville, CA 95667 81%2,465$89,938$547,600$316 pricier homes ($143K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Oxford, MA 01540 80%198$110,579$376,100$302 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes

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.