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 West Babylon, NY 11704

West Babylon: median income $129,195, home value $527,500, $459/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Riverside, CA 92506 90%2,437$121,459$669,500$384 pricier homes ($142K more)
Union, NJ 07083 88%48$121,887$455,300$392 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Methuen, MA 01844 87%179$113,212$499,800$341 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Saugus, MA 01906 87%171$101,539$603,400$393 lower income ($28K less) · pricier homes ($76K more)
Braintree, MA 02184 87%160$122,214$656,800$428 pricier homes ($129K more)
Dracut, MA 01826 86%172$114,196$473,800$353 cheaper homes ($54K less) · newer homes
Randolph, MA 02368 86%156$109,665$496,800$346 cheaper homes ($31K less) · 6 min longer commute
South Plainfield, NJ 07080 86%56$130,205$470,900$386 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller
Concord, CA 94519 86%2,573$122,418$783,700$506 pricier homes ($256K more) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98178 86%2,429$99,505$660,400$367 lower income ($30K less) · pricier homes ($133K more) · smaller
Clark, NJ 07066 85%51$133,504$609,600$413 pricier homes ($82K more) · smaller
Bergenfield, NJ 07621 85%37$130,045$491,500$484 cheaper homes ($36K less)
El Sobrante, CA 94803 85%2,588$118,447$783,900$457 pricier homes ($256K more)
Fords, NJ 08863 84%52$115,861$438,000$386 cheaper homes ($90K less) · smaller
Whittier, CA 90603 84%2,470$136,705$859,000$552 pricier homes ($332K more) · smaller
Carson, CA 90745 84%2,487$107,988$679,100$593 pricier homes ($152K more)
Carson, CA 90746 84%2,486$113,364$770,100$503 pricier homes ($243K more) · smaller
Covina, CA 91722 84%2,461$102,062$653,900$535 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($126K more)
Hacienda Heights, CA 91745 84%2,467$109,183$820,800$528 pricier homes ($293K more)
Vacaville, CA 95688 84%2,563$118,186$687,100$379 pricier homes ($160K more) · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98146 84%2,434$102,520$679,500$451 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($152K more)
Abington, MA 02351 83%158$125,400$539,600$350 smaller · less walkable
Hazlet, NJ 07730 83%48$125,338$478,600$375 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller · older residents
Keyport, NJ 07735 83%48$97,536$406,000$382 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($122K less) · smaller
Dunellen, NJ 08812 83%59$118,316$442,900$356 cheaper homes ($85K less) · smaller

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.