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 East Islip, NY 11730

East Islip: median income $145,652, home value $594,200, $444/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Clark, NJ 07066 90%60$133,504$609,600$413 more walkable
Billerica, MA 01821 88%161$149,042$615,100$382 larger · newer homes
Chelmsford, MA 01824 87%159$140,050$619,700$384 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Seekonk, MA 02771 87%123$120,613$482,800$314 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($111K less)
Middletown, NJ 07748 87%54$152,981$600,600$413 larger · newer homes
Marshfield, MA 02050 86%160$126,241$679,700$424 pricier homes ($86K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Pembroke, MA 02359 86%154$146,285$586,500$392 newer homes
West Bridgewater, MA 02379 86%144$123,406$503,800$358 cheaper homes ($90K less) · smaller · younger residents
Oakland, NJ 07436 86%59$161,971$591,000$390 Very close on everything we compare
Pequannock, NJ 07440 86%60$147,188$591,500$422 smaller
Milltown, NJ 08850 86%69$141,601$470,700$410 cheaper homes ($124K less) · smaller · more walkable
Hanson, MA 02341 85%151$132,250$536,100$337 cheaper homes ($58K less) · newer homes
Butler, NJ 07405 85%68$135,169$569,800$342 Very close on everything we compare
Northvale, NJ 07647 85%44$128,542$602,800$451 smaller
Hazlet, NJ 07730 85%57$125,338$478,600$375 cheaper homes ($116K less)
Denville, NJ 07834 85%69$156,902$555,600$418 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Bloomingdale, NJ 07403 84%63$128,010$431,600$410 cheaper homes ($163K less) · smaller · more renters
Succasunna, NJ 07876 84%78$161,304$527,200$324 cheaper homes ($67K less) · newer homes
Springfield, VA 22151 84%252$156,015$655,800$350 pricier homes ($62K more) · more walkable
Somerset, MA 02726 83%127$111,046$419,000$345 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($175K less)
Swansea, MA 02777 83%124$116,364$445,000$356 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($149K less)
Rockaway, NJ 07866 83%71$131,403$457,400$329 cheaper homes ($137K less) · larger · newer homes
Lancaster, MA 01523 82%142$134,833$519,100$288 cheaper homes ($75K less) · smaller · newer homes
Framingham, MA 01701 82%142$137,094$644,300$395 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
Wilmington, MA 01887 82%164$168,152$680,500$422 pricier homes ($86K more) · larger · 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.