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 Bay Shore, NY 11706

Bay Shore: median income $119,603, home value $494,300, $426/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Methuen, MA 01844 89%176$113,212$499,800$341 Very close on everything we compare
Dracut, MA 01826 85%169$114,196$473,800$353 smaller · older residents
Orangevale, CA 95662 82%2,523$96,689$558,300$352 pricier homes ($64K more) · smaller · older residents
North Dartmouth, MA 02747 81%133$102,079$484,800$309 smaller · newer homes
Chino, CA 91710 81%2,457$103,085$686,500$445 pricier homes ($192K more) · newer homes
Lakeside, CA 92040 81%2,451$107,937$723,200$496 pricier homes ($229K more) · newer homes
San Diego, CA 92114 81%2,462$97,794$649,200$554 pricier homes ($155K more) · more walkable
Yucaipa, CA 92399 81%2,424$92,440$511,200$334 lower income ($27K less) · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Bremerton, WA 98311 81%2,451$108,757$471,800$299 smaller · newer homes
Toms River, NJ 08753 80%70$105,224$409,200$323 cheaper homes ($85K less) · older residents
Spring Valley, CA 91977 80%2,459$99,657$665,600$527 pricier homes ($171K more) · more walkable
Riverside, CA 92504 80%2,445$92,477$562,600$414 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($68K more) · more walkable
Salinas, CA 93907 80%2,591$104,942$750,100$484 pricier homes ($256K more) · smaller · newer homes
Oregon City, OR 97045 80%2,473$103,573$587,700$313 pricier homes ($93K more) · newer homes
Auburn, WA 98001 80%2,437$106,791$587,400$342 pricier homes ($93K more) · smaller · newer homes
Brockton, MA 02302 79%150$92,274$424,800$366 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller
Brick, NJ 08724 79%63$103,127$411,000$352 cheaper homes ($83K less) · smaller · older residents
Sterling, VA 20164 79%249$135,660$544,300$320 pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Riverside, CA 92506 79%2,443$121,459$669,500$384 pricier homes ($175K more) · smaller
Santa Maria, CA 93455 79%2,578$110,661$610,300$416 pricier homes ($116K more) · smaller · more walkable
Vacaville, CA 95688 79%2,569$118,186$687,100$379 pricier homes ($193K more) · smaller · newer homes
Attleboro, MA 02703 78%132$99,152$448,800$316 cheaper homes ($46K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Salem, NH 03079 78%178$110,490$473,300$340 smaller · older residents · newer homes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33317 78%1,085$93,603$495,000$298 lower income ($26K less) · smaller · more walkable
Carson, CA 90745 78%2,493$107,988$679,100$593 pricier homes ($185K more) · older residents · more walkable

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.