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 South River, NJ 08882

South River: median income $96,147, home value $405,200, $331/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Brockton, MA 02302 91%209$92,274$424,800$366 larger
Tacoma, WA 98404 89%2,400$82,191$413,900$318 larger
Levittown, PA 19056 88%33$111,594$378,400$237 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Denver, CO 80221 88%1,610$86,810$472,900$272 pricier homes ($68K more) · larger
Tacoma, WA 98408 88%2,402$80,899$410,500$320 Very close on everything we compare
Vallejo, CA 94589 87%2,534$92,735$540,400$380 pricier homes ($135K more) · larger · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98178 87%2,390$99,505$660,400$367 pricier homes ($255K more) · larger
Sacramento, CA 95822 86%2,486$86,801$466,000$345 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Walden, NY 12586 85%78$87,194$348,400$245 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Stockton, CA 95204 85%2,489$75,548$387,100$285 larger
Vancouver, WA 98663 85%2,427$86,018$450,300$299 pricier homes ($45K more) · 9 min shorter commute
Hatboro, PA 19040 84%42$114,293$384,900$285 Very close on everything we compare
Riverside, CA 92504 84%2,387$92,477$562,600$414 pricier homes ($157K more) · larger
Lakewood, WA 98498 84%2,407$91,664$506,300$324 pricier homes ($101K more) · larger · newer homes
Randolph, MA 02368 83%210$109,665$496,800$346 pricier homes ($92K more) · larger
Stratford, CT 06615 83%83$81,534$364,700$306 cheaper homes ($41K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Copiague, NY 11726 83%54$128,425$481,500$468 higher income ($32K more) · pricier homes ($76K more)
Levittown, PA 19054 83%30$104,713$357,600$277 cheaper homes ($48K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Lanham, MD 20706 83%166$104,523$429,000$242 larger
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33317 83%1,046$93,603$495,000$298 pricier homes ($90K more) · larger
Villa Park, IL 60181 83%713$92,142$311,500$269 cheaper homes ($94K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Arvada, CO 80003 83%1,613$91,464$534,700$265 pricier homes ($130K more) · larger · newer homes
Sacramento, CA 95827 83%2,477$85,841$437,300$332 pricier homes ($32K more) · 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Saint Helens, OR 97051 83%2,433$85,869$412,100$269 newer homes
Port Orchard, WA 98366 83%2,406$92,011$475,800$313 pricier homes ($71K 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.