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 Arverne, NY 11692

Arverne: median income $49,720, home value $710,400, $331/sq ft, 52-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Washington, DC 20020 63%207$54,032$456,000$244 cheaper homes ($254K less) · larger · 14 min shorter commute
Mattapan, MA 02126 58%182$65,709$542,700$400 cheaper homes ($168K less) · 13 min shorter commute · older homes
Dorchester, MA 02121 51%184$43,136$590,200$269 cheaper homes ($120K less) · 16 min shorter commute · older homes
Washington, DC 20019 51%204$58,296$456,800$252 cheaper homes ($254K less) · larger · 17 min shorter commute
East Orange, NJ 07017 50%25$58,853$374,800$252 cheaper homes ($336K less) · larger · 16 min shorter commute
Jersey City, NJ 07304 50%17$70,986$537,200$429 cheaper homes ($173K less) · larger · 15 min shorter commute
Washington, DC 20032 49%209$49,139$407,700$215 cheaper homes ($303K less) · larger · 18 min shorter commute
Jersey City, NJ 07305 47%17$76,527$450,800$353 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($260K less) · larger
Silver Spring, MD 20903 47%202$80,768$485,700$258 higher income ($31K more) · cheaper homes ($225K less) · 13 min shorter commute
East Orange, NJ 07018 46%25$62,564$353,800$271 cheaper homes ($357K less) · 17 min shorter commute · older homes
Newark, NJ 07106 46%25$53,440$355,400$243 cheaper homes ($355K less) · larger · 16 min shorter commute
Bladensburg, MD 20710 46%202$63,810$337,800$233 cheaper homes ($373K less) · smaller · 15 min shorter commute
Van Nuys, CA 91405 46%2,464$62,900$737,700$545 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · 19 min shorter commute
Roxbury, MA 02119 45%184$48,488$688,600$459 22 min shorter commute
Irvington, NJ 07111 45%25$61,609$335,600$287 cheaper homes ($375K less) · larger · 17 min shorter commute
West New York, NJ 07093 44%18$73,174$431,500$445 cheaper homes ($279K less) · larger · 17 min shorter commute
Newark, NJ 07105 44%21$59,847$471,600$273 cheaper homes ($239K less) · larger · 19 min shorter commute
Fairview, NJ 07022 43%19$63,606$511,400$389 cheaper homes ($199K less) · smaller · 21 min shorter commute
Orange, NJ 07050 43%26$52,563$364,500$306 cheaper homes ($346K less) · larger · 20 min shorter commute
Newark, NJ 07104 42%23$53,978$388,800$219 cheaper homes ($322K less) · larger · 21 min shorter commute
Harrison, NJ 07029 41%21$88,333$499,600$340 higher income ($39K more) · cheaper homes ($211K less) · 12 min shorter commute
Union City, NJ 07087 41%17$64,310$471,600$453 cheaper homes ($239K less) · larger · 19 min shorter commute
Newark, NJ 07107 41%24$51,242$379,500$262 cheaper homes ($331K less) · larger · 20 min shorter commute
Los Angeles, CA 90037 41%2,461$57,622$666,400$433 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · 16 min shorter commute
Panorama City, CA 91402 41%2,463$57,369$624,300$492 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger · 21 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.