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 10553

Mount Vernon: median income $84,478, home value $551,200, $287/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hyattsville, MD 20781 91%213$86,018$465,100$308 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Hyattsville, MD 20782 85%214$90,205$454,700$256 cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger · newer homes
Takoma Park, MD 20912 85%215$83,870$699,300$413 pricier homes ($148K more) · larger
Washington, DC 20018 84%216$90,639$697,000$315 pricier homes ($146K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
North Arlington, NJ 07031 82%18$94,201$474,500$434 cheaper homes ($77K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Hyde Park, MA 02136 79%167$96,737$578,400$426 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Carteret, NJ 07008 78%31$97,021$406,000$355 cheaper homes ($145K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Clifton, NJ 07012 78%18$101,737$483,800$498 cheaper homes ($67K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Roselle, NJ 07203 78%29$92,762$379,900$350 cheaper homes ($171K less) · larger
Silver Spring, MD 20903 78%213$80,768$485,700$258 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger · newer homes
Haverhill, MA 01830 77%192$78,571$467,000$311 cheaper homes ($84K less) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Rahway, NJ 07065 77%32$91,461$386,400$395 cheaper homes ($165K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Denver, CO 80223 77%1,636$79,151$539,900$355 larger · 11 min shorter commute
Belleville, NJ 07109 76%19$90,438$420,800$372 cheaper homes ($130K less) · larger · older residents
Ridgefield, NJ 07657 76%11$118,059$646,200$398 higher income ($34K more) · pricier homes ($95K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Kearny, NJ 07032 75%20$79,154$459,400$364 cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Englewood, NJ 07631 75%8$102,571$544,100$428 larger · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Quincy, MA 02170 74%173$103,627$668,300$487 pricier homes ($117K more) · larger · older homes
Bloomfield, NJ 07003 74%21$103,663$470,600$421 cheaper homes ($81K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Riverdale, MD 20737 74%212$86,951$390,500$286 cheaper homes ($161K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60641 74%724$83,758$391,100$284 cheaper homes ($160K less) · larger · older homes
Lynn, MA 01905 73%182$84,333$499,200$377 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Vallejo, CA 94590 73%2,556$65,290$530,500$347 larger
Lowell, MA 01851 72%175$92,401$467,000$324 cheaper homes ($84K less) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Weymouth, MA 02188 72%173$107,335$594,000$396 pricier homes ($43K more) · older residents · 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.