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 North Brunswick, NJ 08902

North Brunswick: median income $121,071, home value $433,800, $319/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Laurel, MD 20724 91%155$118,115$426,100$266 smaller
Laurel, MD 20707 89%157$107,706$423,400$250 more walkable
Frederick, MD 21702 89%171$106,983$426,300$223 Very close on everything we compare
Marlborough, MA 01752 88%201$91,968$513,100$303 lower income ($29K less) · pricier homes ($79K more)
Lansdale, PA 19446 88%45$106,310$441,100$257 older residents
Alexandria, VA 22309 88%184$107,376$567,200$327 pricier homes ($133K more)
Nashua, NH 03063 87%222$107,630$391,400$291 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller
Lisle, IL 60532 87%713$102,085$386,300$253 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller
Gaithersburg, MD 20879 86%169$112,104$468,100$255 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Orlando, FL 32819 86%919$98,109$489,700$278 pricier homes ($56K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Norwalk, CT 06850 85%72$123,633$581,200$390 pricier homes ($147K more) · smaller · older homes
Hatfield, PA 19440 85%45$99,408$438,500$258 smaller
Beltsville, MD 20705 85%162$110,351$446,700$237 smaller
Germantown, MD 20876 85%170$119,731$487,300$264 pricier homes ($54K more) · smaller · more walkable
Frederick, MD 21701 85%166$106,577$435,000$230 more walkable
Carol Stream, IL 60188 85%716$103,628$337,400$236 cheaper homes ($96K less)
Pompano Beach, FL 33071 84%1,036$106,149$576,700$294 pricier homes ($143K more) · more single-family homes
Pompano Beach, FL 33073 84%1,031$97,412$500,700$296 pricier homes ($67K more) · newer homes
Dover, NH 03820 83%264$94,897$436,100$328 lower income ($26K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Suffern, NY 10901 83%50$108,041$542,000$370 pricier homes ($108K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Laurel, MD 20723 83%156$138,113$525,400$255 pricier homes ($92K more)
Owings Mills, MD 21117 83%141$101,831$387,400$201 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Alexandria, VA 22312 83%181$109,272$604,200$325 pricier homes ($170K more) · smaller
Boca Raton, FL 33428 83%1,029$88,543$466,900$312 lower income ($33K less) · pricier homes ($33K more)
Woodridge, IL 60517 83%711$99,024$361,700$229 cheaper homes ($72K less) · more homeowners

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.