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 Howard Beach, NY 11414

Howard Beach: median income $95,051, home value $660,500, $398/sq ft, 42-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Randolph, MA 02368 75%179$109,665$496,800$346 cheaper homes ($164K less) · 5 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Miami, FL 33173 75%1,099$88,271$479,500$368 cheaper homes ($181K less) · 9 min shorter commute · newer homes
Milford, MA 01757 74%158$96,621$478,100$298 cheaper homes ($182K less) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
East Weymouth, MA 02189 74%186$94,541$474,800$437 cheaper homes ($186K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Old Bridge, NJ 08857 74%31$109,312$486,600$372 cheaper homes ($174K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Hyde Park, MA 02136 73%179$96,737$578,400$426 cheaper homes ($82K less) · younger residents · 8 min shorter commute
Weymouth, MA 02188 72%184$107,335$594,000$396 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Whittier, CA 90601 72%2,445$104,052$787,500$519 pricier homes ($127K more) · 9 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
South Weymouth, MA 02190 71%183$99,657$589,700$397 cheaper homes ($71K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Alexandria, VA 22309 71%219$107,376$567,200$327 cheaper homes ($93K less) · 10 min shorter commute
Belleville, NJ 07109 70%19$90,438$420,800$372 cheaper homes ($240K less) · 10 min shorter commute · more renters
Parlin, NJ 08859 69%28$99,882$445,800$372 cheaper homes ($215K less) · younger residents · 10 min shorter commute
Inglewood, CA 90305 69%2,461$92,665$850,000$461 pricier homes ($190K more) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
West Covina, CA 91791 69%2,436$102,266$843,600$508 pricier homes ($183K more) · 9 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Stoughton, MA 02072 68%174$104,794$523,800$335 cheaper homes ($137K less) · 9 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Rockland, MA 02370 68%183$112,405$472,900$353 cheaper homes ($188K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Whitman, MA 02382 68%180$108,933$472,700$343 cheaper homes ($188K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Red Bank, NJ 07701 68%24$112,143$584,500$472 cheaper homes ($76K less) · 9 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Temple Hills, MD 20748 68%208$83,162$384,300$237 cheaper homes ($276K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Silver Spring, MD 20906 68%202$97,521$455,800$250 cheaper homes ($205K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670 68%2,449$88,872$659,600$547 smaller · younger residents · 9 min shorter commute
West Covina, CA 91792 68%2,437$94,817$696,200$489 pricier homes ($36K more) · 10 min shorter commute · more renters
Whitinsville, MA 01588 67%151$92,486$427,100$310 cheaper homes ($233K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Cliffside Park, NJ 07010 67%14$93,452$588,200$440 cheaper homes ($72K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more renters
Linden, NJ 07036 67%22$91,882$417,900$463 cheaper homes ($243K less) · 11 min shorter commute · more renters

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.