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 Lake Grove, NY 11755

Lake Grove: median income $119,364, home value $601,600, $387/sq ft, 38-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lunenburg, MA 01462 91%139$112,992$463,800$320 cheaper homes ($138K less)
Bellingham, MA 02019 89%120$125,307$450,700$282 cheaper homes ($151K less)
Marshfield, MA 02050 89%152$126,241$679,700$424 pricier homes ($78K more) · larger · older residents
Kingston, MA 02364 89%146$119,876$610,600$386 older residents · newer homes
Landing, NJ 07850 89%80$106,806$417,900$371 cheaper homes ($184K less) · smaller
Hanson, MA 02341 88%143$132,250$536,100$337 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Holbrook, MA 02343 87%141$115,032$464,700$406 cheaper homes ($137K less) · older homes
Abington, MA 02351 87%142$125,400$539,600$350 cheaper homes ($62K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Raynham, MA 02767 86%131$124,105$522,400$332 cheaper homes ($79K less) · newer homes
Butler, NJ 07405 86%69$135,169$569,800$342 cheaper homes ($32K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Pepperell, MA 01463 85%148$123,911$482,100$298 cheaper homes ($120K less)
Lancaster, MA 01523 85%133$134,833$519,100$288 cheaper homes ($83K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Lakeville, MA 02347 85%131$133,984$565,900$358 cheaper homes ($36K less) · newer homes
Norton, MA 02766 85%126$124,535$501,400$312 cheaper homes ($100K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
East Bridgewater, MA 02333 84%139$133,741$509,200$322 cheaper homes ($92K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Pembroke, MA 02359 84%146$146,285$586,500$392 higher income ($27K more) · larger · older residents
Tacoma, WA 98422 84%2,444$118,604$663,800$358 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger · newer homes
North Grafton, MA 01536 83%120$115,938$470,800$310 cheaper homes ($131K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
North Reading, MA 01864 83%158$147,768$710,500$425 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($109K more)
Middletown, NJ 07748 83%61$152,981$600,600$413 higher income ($34K more) · larger
El Sobrante, CA 94803 83%2,598$118,447$783,900$457 pricier homes ($182K more) · larger · more walkable
Enumclaw, WA 98022 83%2,428$120,406$608,500$352 larger · newer homes
Townsend, MA 01469 82%144$103,801$425,800$268 cheaper homes ($176K less) · smaller
Uxbridge, MA 01569 82%114$124,222$443,400$305 cheaper homes ($158K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Georgetown, MA 01833 82%170$153,750$653,500$360 higher income ($34K more) · pricier homes ($52K more)

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.