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 Lawrence, NY 11559

Lawrence: median income $142,830, home value $1,229,300, $585/sq ft, 40-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Oakland, CA 94619 76%2,569$129,867$1,025,300$630 cheaper homes ($204K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Cresskill, NJ 07626 75%26$170,376$811,400$547 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($418K less) · older residents
Metuchen, NJ 08840 72%33$146,635$560,100$466 cheaper homes ($669K less) · larger · older residents
Los Angeles, CA 90056 72%2,469$133,048$1,607,200$638 pricier homes ($378K more) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
San Jose, CA 95139 72%2,561$178,790$1,169,300$740 higher income ($36K more) · cheaper homes ($60K less) · older residents
River Edge, NJ 07661 71%27$159,028$660,300$499 cheaper homes ($569K less) · older residents
Seattle, WA 98136 71%2,421$149,269$925,000$544 cheaper homes ($304K less) · larger · older residents
Allendale, NJ 07401 70%36$160,162$782,700$485 cheaper homes ($447K less) · older residents
Woodland Hills, CA 91364 70%2,476$132,854$1,208,200$605 larger · older residents · 10 min shorter commute
Glendora, CA 91741 70%2,437$127,440$946,900$558 cheaper homes ($282K less) · larger · older residents
El Cerrito, CA 94530 70%2,572$128,529$1,114,100$771 cheaper homes ($115K less) · larger · older residents
Cedar Grove, NJ 07009 69%31$151,625$633,900$422 cheaper homes ($595K less) · larger · older residents
Fullerton, CA 92835 69%2,447$143,817$1,052,500$603 cheaper homes ($177K less) · larger · older residents
Hayward, CA 94542 69%2,565$133,734$1,148,000$606 cheaper homes ($81K less) · larger · older residents
Swampscott, MA 01907 68%195$134,386$771,100$441 cheaper homes ($458K less) · larger · older residents
Summit, NJ 07901 68%34$179,701$987,900$715 higher income ($37K more) · cheaper homes ($241K less) · larger
La Palma, CA 90623 68%2,455$116,594$979,600$562 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($250K less) · larger
La Crescenta, CA 91214 68%2,455$140,121$1,135,200$782 cheaper homes ($94K less) · larger · older residents
San Jose, CA 95119 68%2,562$174,375$1,247,800$841 higher income ($32K more) · older residents · 11 min shorter commute
Los Alamitos, CA 90720 67%2,458$135,851$1,215,400$740 larger · older residents · 11 min shorter commute
Washington, DC 20012 66%208$121,418$863,900$421 cheaper homes ($365K less) · larger · older residents
Cranford, NJ 07016 65%30$155,972$660,100$469 cheaper homes ($569K less) · larger · older residents
Ramsey, NJ 07446 65%37$160,996$697,300$450 cheaper homes ($532K less) · larger · older residents
Tenafly, NJ 07670 65%24$208,200$1,002,600$615 higher income ($65K more) · cheaper homes ($227K less) · larger
Shrewsbury, NJ 07702 65%26$178,958$811,400$497 higher income ($36K more) · cheaper homes ($418K less) · smaller

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.