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 Elmsford, NY 10523

Elmsford: median income $118,438, home value $588,100, $449/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ridgefield, NJ 07657 90%18$118,059$646,200$398 pricier homes ($58K more) · older residents
Waltham, MA 02452 89%163$118,431$808,300$429 pricier homes ($220K more) · larger
Edison, NJ 08837 89%45$102,605$437,900$389 cheaper homes ($150K less) · larger
Falls Church, VA 22044 88%233$101,034$775,600$339 pricier homes ($188K more)
Stamford, CT 06906 87%15$93,675$596,800$402 Very close on everything we compare
Alexandria, VA 22312 86%235$109,272$604,200$325 larger
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 86%2,397$107,687$667,100$438 pricier homes ($79K more) · larger
Quincy, MA 02171 84%167$106,885$662,900$512 pricier homes ($75K more) · larger · older residents
Lyndhurst, NJ 07071 84%24$111,711$524,400$439 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger · older residents
Garwood, NJ 07027 83%39$110,670$533,300$422 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller · older residents
Norwood, MA 02062 82%156$107,030$651,700$432 pricier homes ($64K more) · larger · older residents
Waltham, MA 02451 82%162$122,335$753,000$487 pricier homes ($165K more) · larger · older residents
Norwalk, CT 06850 82%20$123,633$581,200$390 larger · older residents · less walkable
Stamford, CT 06907 82%15$106,379$590,000$421 more homeowners · more single-family homes
Lake Hiawatha, NJ 07034 82%32$104,663$428,600$403 cheaper homes ($160K less) · older residents · more single-family homes
Englewood, NJ 07631 82%14$102,571$544,100$428 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · older residents
Woburn, MA 01801 81%169$111,185$673,500$456 pricier homes ($85K more) · larger · older residents
Clifton, NJ 07012 81%23$101,737$483,800$498 cheaper homes ($104K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Wood Ridge, NJ 07075 81%20$136,108$566,200$418 older residents · more homeowners
Woodbridge, NJ 07095 81%42$104,926$390,000$416 cheaper homes ($198K less) · larger
Raritan, NJ 08869 81%55$107,672$456,900$350 cheaper homes ($131K less) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Seattle, WA 98106 81%2,401$124,212$706,600$448 pricier homes ($119K more) · larger · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98126 80%2,402$116,466$783,700$525 pricier homes ($196K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Norwalk, CT 06855 79%22$106,439$511,200$459 cheaper homes ($77K less) · older residents · less walkable
Alexandria, VA 22306 79%235$97,132$594,000$343 larger

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.