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 Mount Vernon, NY 10550

Mount Vernon: median income $60,701, home value $494,300, $300/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
East Orange, NJ 07018 94%23$62,564$353,800$271 cheaper homes ($141K less)
East Orange, NJ 07017 93%22$58,853$374,800$252 cheaper homes ($120K less)
Elizabeth, NJ 07208 93%26$65,511$459,200$321 cheaper homes ($35K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Irvington, NJ 07111 90%24$61,609$335,600$287 cheaper homes ($159K less) · larger
Fairview, NJ 07022 89%11$63,606$511,400$389 smaller
Orange, NJ 07050 88%23$52,563$364,500$306 cheaper homes ($130K less) · younger residents
Newark, NJ 07104 87%20$53,978$388,800$219 cheaper homes ($106K less)
Washington, DC 20019 87%215$58,296$456,800$252 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · younger residents
Mattapan, MA 02126 86%170$65,709$542,700$400 pricier homes ($48K more) · more homeowners
Washington, DC 20020 86%218$54,032$456,000$244 cheaper homes ($38K less) · younger residents
Newark, NJ 07106 85%24$53,440$355,400$243 cheaper homes ($139K less)
Newark, NJ 07112 85%24$58,200$336,500$193 cheaper homes ($158K less)
Bridgeport, CT 06605 84%37$56,179$335,500$277 cheaper homes ($159K less) · smaller · younger residents
Mount Rainier, MD 20712 84%214$68,846$527,900$298 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller
Lynn, MA 01902 83%184$67,046$478,000$348 older homes
Newark, NJ 07107 83%21$51,242$379,500$262 cheaper homes ($115K less)
Kearny, NJ 07032 82%19$79,154$459,400$364 cheaper homes ($35K less) · more homeowners
Hollywood, FL 33020 82%1,091$56,473$353,300$324 cheaper homes ($141K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Union City, NJ 07087 81%14$64,310$471,600$453 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Chelsea, MA 02150 80%178$72,179$493,500$400 younger residents · older homes
Fall River, MA 02720 80%151$62,196$398,000$253 cheaper homes ($96K less) · 10 min shorter commute
Woonsocket, RI 02895 80%141$61,059$311,000$228 cheaper homes ($183K less) · 6 min shorter commute
North Bergen, NJ 07047 79%13$78,911$473,500$425 larger · more homeowners
Miami, FL 33125 79%1,108$44,979$423,100$324 cheaper homes ($71K less) · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Miami, FL 33161 79%1,099$58,325$441,700$405 cheaper homes ($53K less) · more homeowners · more single-family 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.