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 Malverne, NY 11565

Malverne: median income $148,049, home value $642,400, $530/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Emerson, NJ 07630 83%28$155,536$645,200$413 newer homes
Waldwick, NJ 07463 76%33$177,962$588,500$462 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($54K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Colonia, NJ 07067 74%34$122,713$493,100$393 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($149K less) · larger
Belford, NJ 07718 74%28$131,531$514,600$423 cheaper homes ($128K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Springfield, VA 22151 73%228$156,015$655,800$350 larger · newer homes
Hillsdale, NJ 07642 70%30$186,688$677,500$447 higher income ($39K more) · pricier homes ($35K more) · less walkable
Paramus, NJ 07652 70%28$144,349$813,900$504 pricier homes ($172K more) · larger · more renters
Milltown, NJ 08850 70%43$141,601$470,700$410 cheaper homes ($172K less) · newer homes
Oakland, NJ 07436 69%38$161,971$591,000$390 cheaper homes ($51K less) · less walkable · newer homes
Pequannock, NJ 07440 69%38$147,188$591,500$422 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Barrington, RI 02806 68%143$153,198$644,100$426 larger · less walkable · newer homes
Cranford, NJ 07016 68%33$155,972$660,100$469 larger · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Mountainside, NJ 07092 68%36$211,538$810,300$543 higher income ($63K more) · pricier homes ($168K more) · less walkable
Oradell, NJ 07649 68%27$221,322$737,800$500 higher income ($73K more) · pricier homes ($95K more) · newer homes
River Edge, NJ 07661 68%26$159,028$660,300$499 more renters · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Brielle, NJ 08730 68%44$172,250$849,100$641 pricier homes ($207K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Seattle, WA 98177 68%2,419$169,918$1,048,900$544 pricier homes ($407K more) · larger · newer homes
Cedar Grove, NJ 07009 67%32$151,625$633,900$422 larger · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Fair Lawn, NJ 07410 67%29$144,574$564,700$462 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger · younger residents
Leonardo, NJ 07737 67%27$139,318$480,400$434 cheaper homes ($162K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Glen Rock, NJ 07452 66%31$215,096$856,900$575 higher income ($67K more) · pricier homes ($215K more) · newer homes
Cresskill, NJ 07626 66%24$170,376$811,400$547 pricier homes ($169K more) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Springfield, PA 19064 66%102$136,893$414,500$286 cheaper homes ($228K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
West Hills, CA 91307 66%2,480$151,190$963,900$569 pricier homes ($322K more) · larger · more renters
North Weymouth, MA 02191 65%178$120,324$526,900$481 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($116K less) · older residents

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.