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 Babylon, NY 11702

Babylon: median income $137,652, home value $626,900, $455/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Clark, NJ 07066 92%52$133,504$609,600$413 Very close on everything we compare
Paramus, NJ 07652 91%43$144,349$813,900$504 pricier homes ($187K more) · larger
Colonia, NJ 07067 90%52$122,713$493,100$393 cheaper homes ($134K less)
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742 90%57$123,152$627,200$556 larger · newer homes
Dedham, MA 02026 89%155$128,955$661,800$448 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Fairfield, CT 06825 89%35$135,504$630,600$395 larger · younger residents
Cedar Grove, NJ 07009 89%49$151,625$633,900$422 younger residents
Springfield, VA 22151 89%244$156,015$655,800$350 pricier homes ($29K more)
North Weymouth, MA 02191 88%163$120,324$526,900$481 cheaper homes ($100K less) · smaller
Butler, NJ 07405 87%61$135,169$569,800$342 cheaper homes ($57K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Dumont, NJ 07628 87%39$126,071$497,400$420 cheaper homes ($130K less) · younger residents
Emerson, NJ 07630 87%42$155,536$645,200$413 smaller
Cranford, NJ 07016 86%51$155,972$660,100$469 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger
Milltown, NJ 08850 86%61$141,601$470,700$410 cheaper homes ($156K less) · smaller · younger residents
Braintree, MA 02184 85%160$122,214$656,800$428 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · younger residents
South Plainfield, NJ 07080 85%58$130,205$470,900$386 cheaper homes ($156K less) · larger · younger residents
Midland Park, NJ 07432 85%47$146,841$607,200$441 smaller · younger residents
Belmar, NJ 07719 85%54$119,828$700,900$488 pricier homes ($74K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Middletown, NJ 07748 85%46$152,981$600,600$413 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · newer homes
Bergenfield, NJ 07621 84%39$130,045$491,500$484 cheaper homes ($135K less) · larger · younger residents
River Edge, NJ 07661 84%41$159,028$660,300$499 pricier homes ($33K more)
Glendora, CA 91741 84%2,457$127,440$946,900$558 pricier homes ($320K more) · larger
Pinole, CA 94564 84%2,589$127,717$718,600$467 pricier homes ($92K more) · newer homes
Hull, MA 02045 83%168$115,485$646,000$432 older residents
Maywood, NJ 07607 83%41$117,912$533,500$420 cheaper homes ($93K less) · more renters

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.