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 Islip, NY 11751

Islip: median income $116,559, home value $563,100, $434/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
North Smithfield, RI 02896 90%122$108,983$457,400$295 cheaper homes ($106K less)
Hazlet, NJ 07730 90%55$125,338$478,600$375 cheaper homes ($85K less)
Clark, NJ 07066 89%58$133,504$609,600$413 pricier homes ($47K more)
Cloverdale, CA 95425 89%2,612$119,092$653,200$440 pricier homes ($90K more) · newer homes
Millbury, MA 01527 88%126$118,790$450,100$285 cheaper homes ($113K less)
West Boylston, MA 01583 88%135$106,094$441,500$312 cheaper homes ($122K less) · smaller
Dracut, MA 01826 88%166$114,196$473,800$353 cheaper homes ($89K less) · larger
Auburn, MA 01501 87%124$116,762$400,800$299 cheaper homes ($162K less)
Somerset, MA 02726 87%129$111,046$419,000$345 cheaper homes ($144K less)
Port Monmouth, NJ 07758 87%51$115,298$530,000$401 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Rockaway, NJ 07866 87%69$131,403$457,400$329 cheaper homes ($106K less) · larger
Spotswood, NJ 08884 87%66$104,702$369,500$370 cheaper homes ($194K less) · smaller
Oxford, MA 01540 86%118$110,579$376,100$302 cheaper homes ($187K less)
Billerica, MA 01821 86%162$149,042$615,100$382 higher income ($32K more) · pricier homes ($52K more) · larger
Tewksbury, MA 01876 86%165$130,204$577,000$382 larger · newer homes
Saugus, MA 01906 86%165$101,539$603,400$393 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
Bloomingdale, NJ 07403 86%61$128,010$431,600$410 cheaper homes ($132K less) · smaller · more renters
Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442 86%59$124,454$442,400$348 cheaper homes ($121K less) · younger residents
Middlesex, NJ 08846 86%68$105,000$446,400$378 cheaper homes ($117K less) · more walkable
Trenton, NJ 08620 85%85$105,368$373,800$307 cheaper homes ($189K less)
North Billerica, MA 01862 84%162$138,571$586,200$367 newer homes
Stoughton, MA 02072 84%146$104,794$523,800$335 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Rockland, MA 02370 84%154$112,405$472,900$353 cheaper homes ($90K less) · 6 min longer commute
Seekonk, MA 02771 84%125$120,613$482,800$314 cheaper homes ($80K less) · more single-family homes
Swansea, MA 02777 84%126$116,364$445,000$356 cheaper homes ($118K less) · more single-family 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.