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 Lindenhurst, NY 11757

Lindenhurst: median income $127,889, home value $508,100, $439/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
South Plainfield, NJ 07080 89%55$130,205$470,900$386 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Riverside, CA 92506 88%2,436$121,459$669,500$384 pricier homes ($161K more)
Hazlet, NJ 07730 87%46$125,338$478,600$375 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller · older residents
Carson, CA 90746 86%2,485$113,364$770,100$503 pricier homes ($262K more) · smaller
Lynn, MA 01904 84%176$99,614$560,500$391 lower income ($28K less) · pricier homes ($52K more) · smaller
Whittier, CA 90603 84%2,469$136,705$859,000$552 pricier homes ($351K more) · smaller
Colonia, NJ 07067 82%50$122,713$493,100$393 smaller
Braintree, MA 02184 81%162$122,214$656,800$428 pricier homes ($149K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Union, NJ 07083 81%47$121,887$455,300$392 cheaper homes ($53K less) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Lakewood, CA 90712 81%2,479$122,435$829,600$619 pricier homes ($322K more)
Concord, CA 94519 81%2,573$122,418$783,700$506 pricier homes ($276K more) · smaller · more renters
Holbrook, MA 02343 80%159$115,032$464,700$406 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Hacienda Heights, CA 91745 80%2,466$109,183$820,800$528 pricier homes ($313K more) · older residents
Stratford, CT 06614 79%39$110,943$374,800$293 cheaper homes ($133K less) · older residents
Clark, NJ 07066 79%49$133,504$609,600$413 pricier homes ($102K more) · smaller
Keyport, NJ 07735 79%47$97,536$406,000$382 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($102K less) · smaller
Toms River, NJ 08753 79%64$105,224$409,200$323 cheaper homes ($99K less) · newer homes
Buena Park, CA 90620 79%2,472$126,094$840,300$642 pricier homes ($332K more) · more renters
Covina, CA 91722 79%2,460$102,062$653,900$535 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($146K more) · more renters
Pinole, CA 94564 79%2,586$127,717$718,600$467 pricier homes ($211K more) · smaller · older residents
Dracut, MA 01826 78%174$114,196$473,800$353 cheaper homes ($34K less) · more apartments and townhomes · less walkable
Saugus, MA 01906 78%173$101,539$603,400$393 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($95K more) · smaller
Randolph, MA 02368 78%158$109,665$496,800$346 more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442 78%52$124,454$442,400$348 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller
Bergenfield, NJ 07621 78%36$130,045$491,500$484 smaller · more renters

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.