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 Gate, NJ 08740

Ocean Gate: median income $69,397, home value $358,000, $374/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
East Brookfield, MA 01515 83%192$81,042$381,200$286 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Sawyer, MI 49125 81%664$79,766$342,300$378 older residents · less walkable
Deer Isle, ME 04627 79%410$61,703$299,500$278 cheaper homes ($59K less) · 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Colden, NY 14033 78%302$87,431$338,500$263 less walkable
Rockfall, CT 06481 77%134$84,674$360,400$272 less walkable
Kinderhook, NY 12106 77%171$75,714$278,100$264 cheaper homes ($80K less) · more apartments and townhomes · less walkable
Bridport, VT 05734 76%281$81,250$358,600$329 less walkable · newer homes
Craryville, NY 12521 76%157$75,652$338,700$290 less walkable · newer homes
Ferndale, CA 95536 76%2,607$73,375$566,000$336 pricier homes ($208K more) · larger · more renters
Hillsdale, NY 12529 75%159$70,750$384,600$334 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Deltaville, VA 23043 75%203$70,625$420,600$315 pricier homes ($63K more) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Newfane, VT 05345 74%223$67,472$277,700$231 cheaper homes ($80K less) · less walkable · newer homes
Rochester, VT 05767 74%282$72,715$254,800$243 cheaper homes ($103K less) · newer homes
Elwood, NE 68937 74%1,351$85,260$316,800$399 cheaper homes ($41K less) · 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Westwood, CA 96137 74%2,448$65,896$414,900$322 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger · older residents
Penobscot, ME 04476 73%419$63,194$296,400$280 cheaper homes ($62K less) · less walkable · newer homes
Pawlet, VT 05761 73%243$68,125$324,300$271 cheaper homes ($34K less) · less walkable · newer homes
Stanfordville, NY 12581 73%137$80,640$412,200$314 pricier homes ($54K more) · 5 min shorter commute · more renters
Willsboro, NY 12996 73%309$69,766$237,900$207 cheaper homes ($120K less) · less walkable
Hinsdale, MA 01235 72%182$79,327$267,500$280 cheaper homes ($91K less) · larger · less walkable
Ashaway, RI 02804 72%161$102,118$355,400$292 higher income ($33K more) · larger · younger residents
Good Thunder, MN 56037 72%1,059$78,750$258,400$218 cheaper homes ($100K less) · less walkable
Underwood, MN 56586 72%1,176$79,583$309,800$268 cheaper homes ($48K less) · less walkable · newer homes
Idaho Springs, CO 80452 72%1,661$75,565$449,300$344 pricier homes ($91K more) · larger · newer homes
Dayton, WY 82836 72%1,714$79,375$329,100$264 cheaper homes ($29K less) · younger residents · less walkable

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.