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 Oakland Gardens, NY 11364

Oakland Gardens: median income $98,359, home value $806,300, $476/sq ft, 45-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Washington, DC 20012 72%212$121,418$863,900$421 pricier homes ($58K more) · smaller · younger residents
Quincy, MA 02171 71%177$106,885$662,900$512 cheaper homes ($143K less) · smaller · younger residents
Winthrop, MA 02152 68%183$116,167$649,600$407 cheaper homes ($157K less) · smaller · 10 min shorter commute
Red Bank, NJ 07701 67%31$112,143$584,500$472 cheaper homes ($222K less) · 11 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Roslindale, MA 02131 66%173$111,006$664,700$517 cheaper homes ($142K less) · younger residents · 11 min shorter commute
Cliffside Park, NJ 07010 65%13$93,452$588,200$440 cheaper homes ($218K less) · 9 min shorter commute · more renters
Washington, DC 20018 64%212$90,639$697,000$315 cheaper homes ($109K less) · smaller · younger residents
Hyde Park, MA 02136 63%172$96,737$578,400$426 cheaper homes ($228K less) · younger residents · 11 min shorter commute
South Weymouth, MA 02190 63%176$99,657$589,700$397 cheaper homes ($217K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Inglewood, CA 90305 63%2,465$92,665$850,000$461 pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller · 11 min shorter commute
Wakefield, MA 01880 62%185$134,306$723,500$468 higher income ($36K more) · cheaper homes ($83K less) · 11 min shorter commute
Swampscott, MA 01907 62%190$134,386$771,100$441 higher income ($36K more) · cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
West Orange, NJ 07052 62%26$129,475$556,800$394 higher income ($31K more) · cheaper homes ($250K less) · 10 min shorter commute
Englewood, NJ 07631 62%15$102,571$544,100$428 cheaper homes ($262K less) · 14 min shorter commute · more renters
Takoma Park, MD 20912 61%211$83,870$699,300$413 cheaper homes ($107K less) · younger residents · 10 min shorter commute
Alexandria, VA 22309 61%226$107,376$567,200$327 cheaper homes ($239K less) · younger residents · 13 min shorter commute
Encino, CA 91316 61%2,469$92,311$961,100$586 pricier homes ($155K more) · 13 min shorter commute · more renters
Weymouth, MA 02188 60%177$107,335$594,000$396 cheaper homes ($212K less) · smaller · 11 min shorter commute
Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716 60%28$126,591$647,400$474 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($159K less) · smaller
Beverly, MA 01915 59%195$104,918$649,700$475 cheaper homes ($157K less) · younger residents · 15 min shorter commute
Quincy, MA 02170 59%177$103,627$668,300$487 cheaper homes ($138K less) · smaller · younger residents
Melrose, MA 02176 59%183$133,953$822,900$494 higher income ($36K more) · 10 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Washington, DC 20011 59%213$110,309$723,900$379 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger · younger residents
Miami, FL 33173 59%1,106$88,271$479,500$368 cheaper homes ($327K less) · 11 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Quincy, MA 02169 58%177$96,290$581,600$460 cheaper homes ($225K less) · larger · younger residents

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.