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 Metuchen, NJ 08840

Metuchen: median income $146,635, home value $560,100, $466/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fairfield, CT 06825 91%73$135,504$630,600$395 pricier homes ($71K more)
Silver Spring, MD 20901 88%176$131,386$589,800$337 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Wakefield, MA 01880 86%217$134,306$723,500$468 pricier homes ($163K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Valley Stream, NY 11581 86%34$142,233$671,700$489 pricier homes ($112K more)
Swampscott, MA 01907 85%222$134,386$771,100$441 pricier homes ($211K more) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Farmingdale, NY 11735 85%50$139,443$591,500$501 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
West Roxbury, MA 02132 84%204$138,724$746,100$505 pricier homes ($186K more)
Rockville Centre, NY 11570 84%38$157,163$809,200$536 pricier homes ($249K more) · larger · older homes
Elmhurst, IL 60126 84%712$147,566$540,300$360 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Dedham, MA 02026 83%203$128,955$661,800$448 pricier homes ($102K more) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Braintree, MA 02184 83%209$122,214$656,800$428 pricier homes ($97K more) · larger
Mount Kisco, NY 10549 82%56$133,988$668,000$425 pricier homes ($108K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Mineola, NY 11501 82%40$137,665$655,500$522 pricier homes ($95K more) · more walkable
Babylon, NY 11702 82%55$137,652$626,900$455 pricier homes ($67K more) · older residents
Mohegan Lake, NY 10547 81%59$162,605$504,600$435 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller · newer homes
Eastchester, NY 10709 81%40$170,417$847,900$497 pricier homes ($288K more) · smaller
Pearl River, NY 10965 81%40$132,660$596,700$395 pricier homes ($37K more) · 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
East Rockaway, NY 11518 81%37$117,052$588,100$452 lower income ($30K less) · pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller
Park Ridge, IL 60068 81%707$143,222$551,700$325 larger · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Framingham, MA 01701 80%194$137,094$644,300$395 pricier homes ($84K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Pleasantville, NY 10570 80%50$183,833$862,300$470 higher income ($37K more) · pricier homes ($302K more)
Greenlawn, NY 11740 80%56$152,386$693,700$461 pricier homes ($134K more) · smaller · older residents
Kensington, MD 20895 80%179$173,625$781,500$396 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($221K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60646 80%703$112,525$503,900$311 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger
Floral Park, NY 11001 79%36$150,000$765,000$563 pricier homes ($205K more) · older 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.