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.

Reset

Towns most like Valley Stream, NY 11580

Valley Stream: median income $137,402, home value $618,800, $526/sq ft, 40-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pinole, CA 94564 83%2,570$127,717$718,600$467 pricier homes ($100K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Whittier, CA 90603 81%2,451$136,705$859,000$552 pricier homes ($240K more) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Concord, CA 94519 81%2,556$122,418$783,700$506 pricier homes ($165K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Braintree, MA 02184 80%176$122,214$656,800$428 pricier homes ($38K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Teaneck, NJ 07666 80%22$144,075$546,100$431 cheaper homes ($73K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Granada Hills, CA 91344 80%2,469$119,345$904,300$548 pricier homes ($286K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Bergenfield, NJ 07621 79%23$130,045$491,500$484 cheaper homes ($127K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
La Mirada, CA 90638 79%2,453$109,649$827,300$596 lower income ($28K less) · pricier homes ($209K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Dumont, NJ 07628 77%24$126,071$497,400$420 cheaper homes ($121K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Glendora, CA 91741 77%2,438$127,440$946,900$558 pricier homes ($328K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Hacienda Heights, CA 91745 77%2,448$109,183$820,800$528 lower income ($28K less) · pricier homes ($202K more) · 7 min shorter commute
El Sobrante, CA 94803 76%2,570$118,447$783,900$457 pricier homes ($165K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Colonia, NJ 07067 75%33$122,713$493,100$393 cheaper homes ($126K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
South Plainfield, NJ 07080 75%38$130,205$470,900$386 cheaper homes ($148K less) · smaller · 11 min shorter commute
Union, NJ 07083 73%29$121,887$455,300$392 cheaper homes ($164K less) · 10 min shorter commute
San Lorenzo, CA 94580 73%2,569$110,729$846,700$649 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($228K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Metuchen, NJ 08840 72%35$146,635$560,100$466 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller
Carson, CA 90746 72%2,468$113,364$770,100$503 pricier homes ($151K more) · smaller · 11 min shorter commute
Concord, CA 94521 72%2,555$125,899$853,200$491 pricier homes ($234K more) · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Richmond, CA 94805 72%2,573$111,152$791,900$601 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($173K more) · smaller
Paramus, NJ 07652 71%27$144,349$813,900$504 pricier homes ($195K more) · smaller · older residents
Buena Park, CA 90620 71%2,455$126,094$840,300$642 pricier homes ($222K more) · 12 min shorter commute
North Weymouth, MA 02191 70%179$120,324$526,900$481 cheaper homes ($92K less) · smaller · older residents
Randolph, MA 02368 70%172$109,665$496,800$346 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($122K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Fair Lawn, NJ 07410 70%28$144,574$564,700$462 cheaper homes ($54K less) · 9 min shorter commute

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.