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 East Brunswick, NJ 08816

East Brunswick: median income $143,586, home value $522,700, $357/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Franklin, MA 02038 91%194$145,773$611,700$343 pricier homes ($89K more)
Shrewsbury, MA 01545 90%189$139,302$592,300$353 pricier homes ($70K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Canton, MA 02021 88%208$143,381$710,600$425 pricier homes ($188K more) · smaller
Derwood, MD 20855 88%171$149,110$640,300$297 pricier homes ($118K more) · smaller
Walpole, MA 02081 87%202$156,250$687,500$396 pricier homes ($165K more) · smaller
Arlington Heights, IL 60004 87%714$128,979$424,200$280 cheaper homes ($99K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Elmhurst, IL 60126 86%711$147,566$540,300$360 7 min shorter commute
Ashland, MA 01721 85%198$127,539$611,700$353 pricier homes ($89K more) · smaller · less walkable
North Andover, MA 01845 85%231$140,670$732,900$367 pricier homes ($210K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Mansfield, MA 02048 85%199$125,273$603,500$353 pricier homes ($81K more) · smaller
Morrisville, PA 19067 85%27$133,630$507,900$287 9 min shorter commute
Annapolis, MD 21403 85%151$123,329$582,500$366 pricier homes ($60K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Alexandria, VA 22310 85%184$166,061$659,700$355 pricier homes ($137K more) · smaller
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 85%717$137,658$514,300$290 8 min shorter commute
Olney, MD 20832 84%167$168,524$627,000$290 pricier homes ($104K more) · smaller
Ambler, PA 19002 83%46$143,600$602,100$292 pricier homes ($79K more) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Burke, VA 22015 83%190$172,563$696,500$346 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($174K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Dumfries, VA 22025 83%201$150,306$528,600$236 smaller · newer homes
Framingham, MA 01701 82%202$137,094$644,300$395 pricier homes ($122K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Chelmsford, MA 01824 82%217$140,050$619,700$384 pricier homes ($97K more) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Fairfield, CT 06825 82%81$135,504$630,600$395 pricier homes ($108K more) · smaller · older homes
Newtown, PA 18940 82%31$157,414$655,000$316 pricier homes ($132K more) · smaller
Media, PA 19063 82%63$127,368$548,900$303 pricier homes ($26K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Springfield, VA 22152 82%189$165,906$648,200$327 pricier homes ($126K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Springfield, VA 22153 82%190$174,228$693,600$344 higher income ($31K more) · pricier homes ($171K more) · smaller

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.