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 Merrick, NY 11566

Merrick: median income $177,079, home value $722,400, $530/sq ft, 38-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Glen Rock, NJ 07452 82%36$215,096$856,900$575 higher income ($38K more) · pricier homes ($135K more) · smaller
Livingston, NJ 07039 80%41$229,806$821,100$558 higher income ($53K more) · pricier homes ($99K more)
Mountainside, NJ 07092 76%42$211,538$810,300$543 higher income ($34K more) · pricier homes ($88K more) · smaller
Oradell, NJ 07649 76%32$221,322$737,800$500 higher income ($44K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Manasquan, NJ 08736 76%46$174,097$880,900$691 pricier homes ($159K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
West Hills, CA 91307 76%2,486$151,190$963,900$569 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($242K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Seattle, WA 98177 76%2,425$169,918$1,048,900$544 pricier homes ($327K more) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Wyckoff, NJ 07481 75%39$203,988$925,700$502 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($203K more) · smaller
Fanwood, NJ 07023 74%44$195,529$635,200$465 cheaper homes ($87K less) · smaller
Scotch Plains, NJ 07076 74%43$183,655$718,200$475 more renters · more apartments and townhomes · less walkable
Closter, NJ 07624 74%30$190,469$871,300$541 pricier homes ($149K more) · smaller · more renters
Emerson, NJ 07630 74%33$155,536$645,200$413 cheaper homes ($77K less) · smaller · older residents
Springfield, VA 22151 74%233$156,015$655,800$350 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Cranford, NJ 07016 73%39$155,972$660,100$469 cheaper homes ($62K less) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Cresskill, NJ 07626 73%29$170,376$811,400$547 pricier homes ($89K more) · smaller · more renters
Hillsdale, NJ 07642 73%35$186,688$677,500$447 cheaper homes ($45K less) · smaller · 10 min shorter commute
Paramus, NJ 07652 73%33$144,349$813,900$504 lower income ($33K less) · pricier homes ($92K more) · older residents
Milton, MA 02186 72%169$188,033$933,200$547 pricier homes ($211K more) · 7 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Rockville, MD 20853 72%217$159,080$631,900$302 cheaper homes ($91K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Barrington, RI 02806 71%138$153,198$644,100$426 cheaper homes ($78K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Oakland, NJ 07436 70%43$161,971$591,000$390 cheaper homes ($131K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Ridgewood, NJ 07450 70%36$208,211$891,200$658 higher income ($31K more) · pricier homes ($169K more) · more renters
Waldwick, NJ 07463 70%38$177,962$588,500$462 cheaper homes ($134K less) · smaller · 11 min shorter commute
River Edge, NJ 07661 70%31$159,028$660,300$499 cheaper homes ($62K less) · smaller · more renters
Middletown, NJ 07748 70%35$152,981$600,600$413 cheaper homes ($122K less) · more apartments and townhomes · less walkable

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.