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 Williston Park, NY 11596

Williston Park: median income $163,833, home value $808,900, $627/sq ft, 39-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
River Edge, NJ 07661 80%24$159,028$660,300$499 cheaper homes ($149K less)
Cresskill, NJ 07626 79%21$170,376$811,400$547 less walkable · newer homes
Cranford, NJ 07016 75%35$155,972$660,100$469 cheaper homes ($149K less) · larger · less walkable
Fanwood, NJ 07023 74%40$195,529$635,200$465 higher income ($32K more) · cheaper homes ($174K less) · less walkable
Metuchen, NJ 08840 74%40$146,635$560,100$466 cheaper homes ($249K less) · larger · less walkable
Cedar Grove, NJ 07009 73%31$151,625$633,900$422 cheaper homes ($175K less) · 5 min shorter commute · less walkable
Teaneck, NJ 07666 73%21$144,075$546,100$431 cheaper homes ($263K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Oakland, CA 94619 73%2,571$129,867$1,025,300$630 lower income ($34K less) · pricier homes ($216K more) · larger
Glen Rock, NJ 07452 72%29$215,096$856,900$575 higher income ($51K more) · pricier homes ($48K more) · less walkable
Fair Lawn, NJ 07410 71%27$144,574$564,700$462 cheaper homes ($244K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Milton, MA 02186 70%168$188,033$933,200$547 pricier homes ($124K more) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Maplewood, NJ 07040 69%33$173,500$720,700$599 cheaper homes ($88K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Verona, NJ 07044 68%32$161,843$608,400$432 cheaper homes ($201K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
West Hills, CA 91307 68%2,481$151,190$963,900$569 pricier homes ($155K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Rutherford, NJ 07070 67%25$143,153$603,600$489 cheaper homes ($205K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Waldwick, NJ 07463 67%31$177,962$588,500$462 cheaper homes ($220K less) · 13 min shorter commute · newer homes
Closter, NJ 07624 67%22$190,469$871,300$541 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($62K more) · 6 min shorter commute
New Providence, NJ 07974 67%40$172,894$758,400$549 cheaper homes ($51K less) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Brielle, NJ 08730 67%50$172,250$849,100$641 pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller · 10 min shorter commute
Swampscott, MA 01907 66%184$134,386$771,100$441 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($38K less) · 5 min shorter commute
West Roxbury, MA 02132 66%166$138,724$746,100$505 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger
Allendale, NJ 07401 66%32$160,162$782,700$485 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · less walkable
Midland Park, NJ 07432 66%31$146,841$607,200$441 cheaper homes ($202K less) · 11 min shorter commute
Dumont, NJ 07628 66%22$126,071$497,400$420 lower income ($38K less) · cheaper homes ($312K less) · larger
Shrewsbury, NJ 07702 66%37$178,958$811,400$497 smaller · 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.