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 Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742

Point Pleasant Beach: median income $123,152, home value $627,200, $556/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Babylon, NY 11702 90%57$137,652$626,900$455 smaller · older homes
Farmingdale, NY 11735 89%56$139,443$591,500$501 cheaper homes ($36K less) · younger residents
Phoenix, AZ 85028 88%2,129$125,054$642,200$365 Very close on everything we compare
Bethpage, NY 11714 87%55$120,172$600,700$496 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Cerritos, CA 90703 87%2,442$134,987$932,400$636 pricier homes ($305K more) · larger
Dedham, MA 02026 86%212$128,955$661,800$448 pricier homes ($35K more) · older homes
East Meadow, NY 11554 86%51$133,971$631,800$560 6 min longer commute
Garden Grove, CA 92845 86%2,442$136,485$926,200$738 pricier homes ($299K more) · smaller
Sacramento, CA 95864 86%2,501$127,953$810,400$439 pricier homes ($183K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Burlington, MA 01803 85%224$146,436$740,600$441 pricier homes ($113K more)
Sayville, NY 11782 85%69$147,672$637,300$507 smaller · less walkable
La Mirada, CA 90638 85%2,438$109,649$827,300$596 pricier homes ($200K more) · larger
West Hills, CA 91307 85%2,463$151,190$963,900$569 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($337K more)
Glendora, CA 91741 85%2,422$127,440$946,900$558 pricier homes ($320K more)
Pinole, CA 94564 84%2,560$127,717$718,600$467 pricier homes ($91K more) · 6 min longer commute
Edmonds, WA 98026 84%2,418$133,638$821,700$450 pricier homes ($195K more) · larger
Braintree, MA 02184 83%217$122,214$656,800$428 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · younger residents
Saint James, NY 11780 83%73$144,577$723,200$466 pricier homes ($96K more) · smaller · less walkable
Carson, CA 90746 83%2,452$113,364$770,100$503 pricier homes ($143K more)
Walnut, CA 91789 83%2,426$125,720$975,000$612 pricier homes ($348K more) · larger · newer homes
Novato, CA 94947 83%2,573$128,766$1,017,600$602 pricier homes ($390K more)
Seattle, WA 98155 83%2,418$131,540$816,400$460 pricier homes ($189K more) · younger residents
Portsmouth, RI 02871 82%180$116,831$597,000$392 cheaper homes ($30K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Springfield, VA 22151 82%190$156,015$655,800$350 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Diamond Bar, CA 91765 82%2,424$105,565$915,100$560 pricier homes ($288K more) · larger · newer homes

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.