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 Old Bridge, NJ 08857

Old Bridge: median income $109,312, home value $486,600, $372/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Randolph, MA 02368 96%210$109,665$496,800$346 Very close on everything we compare
Milford, MA 01757 94%189$96,621$478,100$298 Very close on everything we compare
North Attleboro, MA 02760 94%190$112,027$478,700$330 Very close on everything we compare
Stoughton, MA 02072 93%205$104,794$523,800$335 pricier homes ($37K more)
Attleboro, MA 02703 92%190$99,152$448,800$316 cheaper homes ($38K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Hudson, MA 01749 89%199$103,400$496,800$357 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Weymouth, MA 02188 89%215$107,335$594,000$396 pricier homes ($107K more) · smaller
South Weymouth, MA 02190 89%214$99,657$589,700$397 pricier homes ($103K more) · smaller
Nanuet, NY 10954 89%51$116,332$533,000$383 pricier homes ($46K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Patchogue, NY 11772 89%74$105,245$474,800$400 5 min shorter commute
Federal Way, WA 98023 89%2,401$104,893$589,900$320 pricier homes ($103K more)
Amityville, NY 11701 88%52$117,033$499,500$442 8 min shorter commute
Coram, NY 11727 88%77$103,287$443,200$341 cheaper homes ($43K less) · less walkable
Alexandria, VA 22309 88%188$107,376$567,200$327 pricier homes ($81K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Lakewood, WA 98498 88%2,411$91,664$506,300$324 6 min shorter commute
Dracut, MA 01826 87%221$114,196$473,800$353 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Bridgewater, MA 02324 87%206$112,726$533,600$318 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller
Ossining, NY 10562 87%59$115,697$498,700$392 more apartments and townhomes
Lanham, MD 20706 87%167$104,523$429,000$242 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Miami, FL 33186 87%1,076$93,462$465,400$338 larger · newer homes
Methuen, MA 01844 86%229$113,212$499,800$341 8 min shorter commute
Amesbury, MA 01913 86%244$103,554$519,300$385 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
East Weymouth, MA 02189 86%217$94,541$474,800$437 smaller · older homes
Abington, MA 02351 86%211$125,400$539,600$350 pricier homes ($53K more) · smaller
Rockland, MA 02370 86%214$112,405$472,900$353 smaller · 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.