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 Islandia, NY 11749

Islandia: median income $116,313, home value $477,400, $366/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mine Hill, NJ 07803 93%74$119,583$434,100$315 cheaper homes ($43K less)
East Taunton, MA 02718 91%134$109,500$469,200$300 larger
Leicester, MA 01524 89%118$102,099$436,200$278 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Forestdale, MA 02644 89%151$108,158$485,700$361 Very close on everything we compare
Somerset, MA 02725 88%121$129,253$417,300$384 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller
Tacoma, WA 98443 88%2,443$105,035$519,100$320 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger · more renters
Halifax, MA 02338 87%146$118,556$481,500$347 larger · 5 min longer commute
East Wareham, MA 02538 87%147$123,750$392,000$404 cheaper homes ($85K less) · more renters
Oxford, MA 01540 86%113$110,579$376,100$302 cheaper homes ($101K less) · larger · more renters
Hope, RI 02831 86%106$137,181$462,200$299 less walkable
Port Reading, NJ 07064 86%59$133,854$435,400$428 cheaper homes ($42K less) · more walkable
Port Monmouth, NJ 07758 86%56$115,298$530,000$401 pricier homes ($53K more) · more renters
Lanoka Harbor, NJ 08734 86%84$116,000$442,000$309 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · newer homes
Hayden, CO 81639 86%1,776$110,404$443,600$354 cheaper homes ($34K less) · more renters
North Dighton, MA 02764 85%127$135,640$533,800$369 pricier homes ($56K more) · younger residents · less walkable
Hazlet, NJ 07730 85%59$125,338$478,600$375 larger
Branchville, NJ 07826 85%86$116,598$392,200$289 cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger
Spotswood, NJ 08884 85%70$104,702$369,500$370 cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger
Hot Sulphur Springs, CO 80451 85%1,721$111,875$421,100$349 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller
Northwood, NH 03261 84%194$129,375$363,000$308 cheaper homes ($114K less) · 6 min longer commute
Lake Hopatcong, NJ 07849 84%76$117,298$438,600$329 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
West Creek, NJ 08092 84%99$110,509$496,900$322 newer homes
Gaston, OR 97119 84%2,501$115,515$629,000$300 pricier homes ($152K more) · less walkable
Fremont, NH 03044 83%184$120,781$416,900$325 cheaper homes ($61K less) · less walkable · newer homes
North Berwick, ME 03906 83%215$105,156$432,900$325 cheaper homes ($45K less) · less walkable · 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.