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 Iselin, NJ 08830

Iselin: median income $109,500, home value $426,800, $482/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rockville, MD 20851 87%181$126,411$568,900$363 pricier homes ($142K more)
Stamford, CT 06907 85%55$106,379$590,000$421 pricier homes ($163K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Atlanta, GA 30317 85%724$107,955$541,100$351 pricier homes ($114K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Silver Spring, MD 20901 84%179$131,386$589,800$337 pricier homes ($163K more) · larger
Braintree, MA 02184 82%206$122,214$656,800$428 pricier homes ($230K more) · larger · more homeowners
La Grange Park, IL 60526 82%709$120,308$439,800$308 older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Riverside, IL 60546 82%707$113,533$394,500$304 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Silver Spring, MD 20902 81%179$114,486$551,200$316 pricier homes ($124K more) · larger
Chicago, IL 60631 81%707$115,000$436,400$280 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Dallas, TX 75218 81%1,345$107,366$521,000$329 pricier homes ($94K more) · 9 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60646 80%704$112,525$503,900$311 pricier homes ($77K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Beverly, MA 01915 79%225$104,918$649,700$475 pricier homes ($223K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Dedham, MA 02026 78%200$128,955$661,800$448 pricier homes ($235K more) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Stoneham, MA 02180 78%212$113,964$671,900$437 pricier homes ($245K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Randolph, MA 02368 78%202$109,665$496,800$346 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger
Mineola, NY 11501 78%37$137,665$655,500$522 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($229K more)
East Rockaway, NY 11518 78%34$117,052$588,100$452 pricier homes ($161K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Portland, OR 97206 78%2,425$98,548$498,300$338 pricier homes ($72K more) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Tacoma, WA 98406 78%2,403$104,264$638,400$347 pricier homes ($212K more) · 9 min shorter commute
East Weymouth, MA 02189 77%209$94,541$474,800$437 pricier homes ($48K more) · older residents
Yonkers, NY 10710 77%37$108,845$560,000$392 pricier homes ($133K more) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Farmingdale, NY 11735 77%48$139,443$591,500$501 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($165K more) · larger
Willow Grove, PA 19090 77%51$99,928$369,100$256 cheaper homes ($58K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Seattle, WA 98146 77%2,394$102,520$679,500$451 pricier homes ($253K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Seattle, WA 98178 77%2,389$99,505$660,400$367 pricier homes ($234K more)

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.