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 Fresh Meadows, NY 11366

Fresh Meadows: median income $135,373, home value $967,400, $736/sq ft, 48-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Swampscott, MA 01907 67%192$134,386$771,100$441 cheaper homes ($196K less) · 14 min shorter commute
Washington, DC 20012 67%210$121,418$863,900$421 cheaper homes ($104K less) · 12 min shorter commute
Melrose, MA 02176 65%185$133,953$822,900$494 cheaper homes ($145K less) · larger · 14 min shorter commute
Wakefield, MA 01880 61%187$134,306$723,500$468 cheaper homes ($244K less) · larger · 15 min shorter commute
Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716 61%26$126,591$647,400$474 cheaper homes ($320K less) · smaller · older residents
Rutherford, NJ 07070 60%18$143,153$603,600$489 cheaper homes ($364K less) · 14 min shorter commute
Cresskill, NJ 07626 60%17$170,376$811,400$547 higher income ($35K more) · cheaper homes ($156K less) · 12 min shorter commute
El Cerrito, CA 94530 60%2,567$128,529$1,114,100$771 pricier homes ($147K more) · larger · 15 min shorter commute
Oakland, CA 94619 60%2,564$129,867$1,025,300$630 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger · younger residents
Maplewood, NJ 07040 59%25$173,500$720,700$599 higher income ($38K more) · cheaper homes ($247K less) · larger
River Edge, NJ 07661 59%19$159,028$660,300$499 cheaper homes ($307K less) · 13 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Metuchen, NJ 08840 59%32$146,635$560,100$466 cheaper homes ($407K less) · younger residents · 12 min shorter commute
Los Angeles, CA 90056 59%2,465$133,048$1,607,200$638 pricier homes ($640K more) · smaller · 15 min shorter commute
Newburyport, MA 01950 58%208$139,625$834,000$552 cheaper homes ($133K less) · older residents · 17 min shorter commute
West Roxbury, MA 02132 58%173$138,724$746,100$505 cheaper homes ($221K less) · larger · 17 min shorter commute
Glendora, CA 91741 58%2,433$127,440$946,900$558 larger · 15 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Summit, NJ 07901 56%30$179,701$987,900$715 higher income ($44K more) · larger · 15 min shorter commute
La Palma, CA 90623 56%2,452$116,594$979,600$562 16 min shorter commute · newer homes
Cedar Grove, NJ 07009 55%24$151,625$633,900$422 cheaper homes ($334K less) · 14 min shorter commute
Red Bank, NJ 07701 55%29$112,143$584,500$472 cheaper homes ($383K less) · larger · 15 min shorter commute
Alexandria, VA 22307 55%220$141,667$778,900$425 cheaper homes ($189K less) · 15 min shorter commute
Arlington, MA 02476 54%179$151,131$934,800$609 cheaper homes ($33K less) · 15 min shorter commute · older homes
Cranford, NJ 07016 54%27$155,972$660,100$469 cheaper homes ($307K less) · larger · 14 min shorter commute
Wood Ridge, NJ 07075 54%17$136,108$566,200$418 cheaper homes ($401K less) · 15 min shorter commute
Allendale, NJ 07401 54%28$160,162$782,700$485 cheaper homes ($185K less) · smaller · 12 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.