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.

Reset

Towns most like Sea Cliff, NY 11579

Sea Cliff: median income $193,590, home value $986,900, $668/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Glen Rock, NJ 07452 76%26$215,096$856,900$575 cheaper homes ($130K less) · larger · more homeowners
Cresskill, NJ 07626 75%18$170,376$811,400$547 cheaper homes ($176K less) · larger · newer homes
River Edge, NJ 07661 75%21$159,028$660,300$499 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($327K less) · larger
Milton, MA 02186 73%165$188,033$933,200$547 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Closter, NJ 07624 73%19$190,469$871,300$541 cheaper homes ($116K less) · larger · less walkable
Fanwood, NJ 07023 72%41$195,529$635,200$465 cheaper homes ($352K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Glen Ridge, NJ 07028 72%30$247,361$833,600$671 higher income ($54K more) · cheaper homes ($153K less) · larger
Ridgewood, NJ 07450 70%26$208,211$891,200$658 cheaper homes ($96K less) · larger · newer homes
Tenafly, NJ 07670 70%18$208,200$1,002,600$615 larger · newer homes
Brielle, NJ 08730 69%56$172,250$849,100$641 cheaper homes ($138K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Marblehead, MA 01945 68%183$179,583$942,200$536 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · older residents
Maplewood, NJ 07040 68%34$173,500$720,700$599 cheaper homes ($266K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Millburn, NJ 07041 68%35$202,750$961,700$771 cheaper homes ($25K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Montclair, NJ 07043 68%29$250,000+*$975,200$650 higher income ($56K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Mountainside, NJ 07092 68%39$211,538$810,300$543 cheaper homes ($177K less) · older residents · more single-family homes
Haworth, NJ 07641 68%20$236,765$845,300$593 higher income ($43K more) · cheaper homes ($142K less) · more homeowners
Oradell, NJ 07649 68%22$221,322$737,800$500 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($249K less) · larger
West Newton, MA 02465 67%162$194,265$1,159,200$619 pricier homes ($172K more) · larger · 11 min shorter commute
Cranford, NJ 07016 67%37$155,972$660,100$469 lower income ($38K less) · cheaper homes ($327K less) · larger
Shrewsbury, NJ 07702 67%42$178,958$811,400$497 cheaper homes ($176K less) · newer homes
Summit, NJ 07901 67%39$179,701$987,900$715 larger · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Oakland, CA 94619 67%2,570$129,867$1,025,300$630 lower income ($64K less) · pricier homes ($38K more) · larger
New Providence, NJ 07974 66%41$172,894$758,400$549 cheaper homes ($229K less) · larger · older residents
Newton Highlands, MA 02461 65%162$224,000$1,255,400$684 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($269K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Westfield, NJ 07090 65%39$232,629$953,400$574 higher income ($39K more) · cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger

* The Census Bureau doesn’t publish exact figures above $250,000 for household income, $2,000,000 for home values or $3,500 for monthly rent; it reports them as “or more.”

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.