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 Farmingdale, NY 11735

Farmingdale: median income $139,443, home value $591,500, $501/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Braintree, MA 02184 94%162$122,214$656,800$428 pricier homes ($65K more)
South Plainfield, NJ 07080 93%52$130,205$470,900$386 cheaper homes ($121K less)
Bergenfield, NJ 07621 93%32$130,045$491,500$484 cheaper homes ($100K less)
Clark, NJ 07066 91%47$133,504$609,600$413 smaller
Dumont, NJ 07628 91%33$126,071$497,400$420 cheaper homes ($94K less) · smaller
Teaneck, NJ 07666 90%32$144,075$546,100$431 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742 89%56$123,152$627,200$556 pricier homes ($36K more) · older residents
Dedham, MA 02026 88%157$128,955$661,800$448 pricier homes ($70K more)
Colonia, NJ 07067 87%47$122,713$493,100$393 cheaper homes ($98K less) · smaller
Fair Lawn, NJ 07410 87%38$144,574$564,700$462 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Pinole, CA 94564 87%2,583$127,717$718,600$467 pricier homes ($127K more) · smaller · newer homes
Cedar Grove, NJ 07009 86%43$151,625$633,900$422 pricier homes ($42K more) · smaller
Union, NJ 07083 86%44$121,887$455,300$392 cheaper homes ($136K less) · larger
Wayne, NJ 07470 86%45$153,056$612,700$382 larger
Paramus, NJ 07652 86%36$144,349$813,900$504 pricier homes ($222K more) · older residents
Springfield, VA 22151 86%241$156,015$655,800$350 pricier homes ($64K more) · smaller
Whittier, CA 90603 86%2,465$136,705$859,000$552 pricier homes ($268K more) · smaller
Glendora, CA 91741 86%2,452$127,440$946,900$558 pricier homes ($355K more)
Fairfield, CT 06825 85%33$135,504$630,600$395 pricier homes ($39K more)
Metuchen, NJ 08840 85%50$146,635$560,100$466 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
La Mirada, CA 90638 85%2,467$109,649$827,300$596 lower income ($30K less) · pricier homes ($236K more)
Riverside, CA 92506 85%2,433$121,459$669,500$384 pricier homes ($78K more)
Middletown, NJ 07748 84%43$152,981$600,600$413 less walkable
Rockville, MD 20853 84%225$159,080$631,900$302 pricier homes ($40K more)
Butler, NJ 07405 83%55$135,169$569,800$342 smaller · less 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.