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.

Reset

Towns most like Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522

Dobbs Ferry: median income $165,417, home value $765,500, $537/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Alexandria, VA 22307 90%230$141,667$778,900$425 Very close on everything we compare
Arlington, MA 02474 88%170$150,560$933,200$598 pricier homes ($168K more) · larger
Falls Church, VA 22046 84%229$168,882$1,014,700$476 pricier homes ($249K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Arlington, MA 02476 83%169$151,131$934,800$609 pricier homes ($169K more) · larger · older residents
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 83%103$144,471$803,100$388 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Swampscott, MA 01907 82%183$134,386$771,100$441 lower income ($31K less) · more homeowners
Wakefield, MA 01880 81%177$134,306$723,500$468 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
West Roxbury, MA 02132 81%165$138,724$746,100$505 lower income ($27K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Newton, MA 02458 81%166$153,520$1,136,100$544 pricier homes ($371K more) · older homes
Stamford, CT 06905 81%18$136,757$618,400$413 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($147K less) · larger
Rutherford, NJ 07070 81%18$143,153$603,600$489 cheaper homes ($162K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004 81%100$149,232$632,000$327 cheaper homes ($134K less)
Washington, DC 20012 81%219$121,418$863,900$421 lower income ($44K less) · pricier homes ($98K more) · larger
Summit, NJ 07901 80%33$179,701$987,900$715 pricier homes ($222K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Newburyport, MA 01950 79%197$139,625$834,000$552 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($69K more) · larger
Narberth, PA 19072 79%100$172,550$819,700$372 pricier homes ($54K more)
Seattle, WA 98136 79%2,402$149,269$925,000$544 pricier homes ($160K more) · more single-family homes
Verona, NJ 07044 78%23$161,843$608,400$432 cheaper homes ($157K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Wood Ridge, NJ 07075 78%16$136,108$566,200$418 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($199K less)
Springfield, NJ 07081 78%32$155,906$636,600$401 cheaper homes ($129K less) · more single-family homes
Melrose, MA 02176 77%176$133,953$822,900$494 lower income ($31K less) · pricier homes ($57K more) · larger
Alexandria, VA 22302 77%228$123,539$631,100$441 lower income ($42K less) · cheaper homes ($134K less) · larger
Belmont, MA 02478 76%168$183,137$1,159,000$601 pricier homes ($394K more) · larger · older homes
South Orange, NJ 07079 76%27$195,417$866,600$473 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($101K more) · larger
Morristown, NJ 07960 76%36$160,334$735,600$476 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute

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.