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 West Hempstead, NY 11552

West Hempstead: median income $155,154, home value $638,200, $468/sq ft, 38-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Teaneck, NJ 07666 82%23$144,075$546,100$431 cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Belford, NJ 07718 79%30$131,531$514,600$423 cheaper homes ($124K less) · smaller
Colonia, NJ 07067 78%35$122,713$493,100$393 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($145K less) · older residents
Fair Lawn, NJ 07410 77%29$144,574$564,700$462 cheaper homes ($74K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Rockville, MD 20853 77%213$159,080$631,900$302 older residents · 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Springfield, VA 22151 77%230$156,015$655,800$350 older residents · 9 min shorter commute
Metuchen, NJ 08840 75%38$146,635$560,100$466 cheaper homes ($78K less) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Whittier, CA 90603 75%2,454$136,705$859,000$552 pricier homes ($221K more) · 6 min shorter commute
South Plainfield, NJ 07080 74%41$130,205$470,900$386 cheaper homes ($167K less) · older residents · 8 min shorter commute
West Hills, CA 91307 74%2,481$151,190$963,900$569 pricier homes ($326K more) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Milltown, NJ 08850 73%45$141,601$470,700$410 cheaper homes ($168K less) · smaller · older residents
Cedar Grove, NJ 07009 72%32$151,625$633,900$422 smaller · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Cranford, NJ 07016 71%34$155,972$660,100$469 older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Waldwick, NJ 07463 71%33$177,962$588,500$462 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller · 11 min shorter commute
Dumont, NJ 07628 71%25$126,071$497,400$420 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($141K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Leonardo, NJ 07737 71%29$139,318$480,400$434 cheaper homes ($158K less) · smaller · older residents
Middletown, NJ 07748 71%32$152,981$600,600$413 cheaper homes ($38K less) · older residents · less walkable
Bergenfield, NJ 07621 70%24$130,045$491,500$484 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($147K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Paramus, NJ 07652 70%28$144,349$813,900$504 pricier homes ($176K more) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Bowie, MD 20715 70%202$143,732$452,600$257 cheaper homes ($186K less) · less walkable · newer homes
Fairfield, CT 06825 69%41$135,504$630,600$395 older residents · 5 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Cresskill, NJ 07626 69%24$170,376$811,400$547 pricier homes ($173K more) · smaller · older residents
River Edge, NJ 07661 69%26$159,028$660,300$499 smaller · older residents · more renters
Pinole, CA 94564 69%2,572$127,717$718,600$467 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($80K more) · older residents
Braintree, MA 02184 68%173$122,214$656,800$428 lower income ($33K less) · larger · 5 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.