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 Lynbrook, NY 11563

Lynbrook: median income $136,887, home value $614,900, $469/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bergenfield, NJ 07621 86%25$130,045$491,500$484 cheaper homes ($123K less)
Dumont, NJ 07628 86%26$126,071$497,400$420 cheaper homes ($118K less)
Nutley, NJ 07110 85%28$119,646$517,500$421 cheaper homes ($97K less)
Hasbrouck Heights, NJ 07604 85%25$123,734$552,900$430 cheaper homes ($62K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Braintree, MA 02184 84%175$122,214$656,800$428 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger · less walkable
Rutherford, NJ 07070 83%26$143,153$603,600$489 more renters
Maywood, NJ 07607 83%26$117,912$533,500$420 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Melrose, MA 02176 81%184$133,953$822,900$494 pricier homes ($208K more)
Teaneck, NJ 07666 81%24$144,075$546,100$431 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Swampscott, MA 01907 80%190$134,386$771,100$441 pricier homes ($156K more) · newer homes
Clifton, NJ 07013 80%30$116,273$478,100$434 cheaper homes ($137K less) · 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Union, NJ 07083 80%31$121,887$455,300$392 cheaper homes ($160K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
North Weymouth, MA 02191 79%179$120,324$526,900$481 cheaper homes ($88K less) · smaller · older residents
West Orange, NJ 07052 79%32$129,475$556,800$394 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · less walkable
Wood Ridge, NJ 07075 78%25$136,108$566,200$418 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller · newer homes
New Milford, NJ 07646 78%26$114,889$580,400$467 cheaper homes ($35K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more renters
Dunellen, NJ 08812 78%42$118,316$442,900$356 cheaper homes ($172K less) · smaller · newer homes
Wakefield, MA 01880 77%185$134,306$723,500$468 pricier homes ($109K more) · less walkable · newer homes
Bogota, NJ 07603 77%24$103,299$501,600$391 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($113K less) · smaller
Leonia, NJ 07605 77%22$129,219$672,900$469 pricier homes ($58K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Fords, NJ 08863 77%34$115,861$438,000$386 cheaper homes ($177K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
West Roxbury, MA 02132 76%172$138,724$746,100$505 pricier homes ($131K more)
Silver Spring, MD 20901 76%210$131,386$589,800$337 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger · newer homes
Dedham, MA 02026 75%170$128,955$661,800$448 pricier homes ($47K more) · 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Red Bank, NJ 07701 75%29$112,143$584,500$472 cheaper homes ($30K less) · less walkable · newer homes

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.