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 Oakdale, NY 11769

Oakdale: median income $123,558, home value $607,000, $389/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rowley, MA 01969 92%178$132,734$667,300$375 pricier homes ($60K more)
Seekonk, MA 02771 89%121$120,613$482,800$314 cheaper homes ($124K less) · larger · younger residents
North Easton, MA 02356 88%139$127,224$650,300$348 pricier homes ($43K more)
Charlestown, RI 02813 88%89$109,404$525,500$412 cheaper homes ($82K less) · newer homes
Northvale, NJ 07647 88%46$128,542$602,800$451 smaller · younger residents
South Dartmouth, MA 02748 87%125$97,361$521,800$377 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($85K less)
Tiverton, RI 02878 87%119$106,036$411,900$306 cheaper homes ($195K less) · larger
Fairfield, NJ 07004 87%62$115,980$688,500$393 pricier homes ($82K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Boylston, MA 01505 86%132$140,962$578,600$343 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Merrimac, MA 01860 86%182$123,054$553,400$329 cheaper homes ($54K less) · newer homes
Millis, MA 02054 86%135$155,996$603,500$369 higher income ($32K more)
Centerville, MA 02632 86%158$121,317$616,700$486 more single-family homes
Eliot, ME 03903 86%205$101,522$498,900$363 cheaper homes ($108K less) · 5 min shorter commute
York, ME 03909 86%210$115,608$638,400$414 pricier homes ($31K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Sterling, MA 01564 85%137$129,063$498,800$327 cheaper homes ($108K less) · 7 min longer commute · newer homes
West Boylston, MA 01583 85%132$106,094$441,500$312 cheaper homes ($166K less) · younger residents
North Smithfield, RI 02896 85%118$108,983$457,400$295 cheaper homes ($150K less) · younger residents
Hampstead, NH 03841 85%179$104,044$510,100$307 cheaper homes ($97K less) · newer homes
Kennebunk, ME 04043 85%226$107,804$487,700$378 cheaper homes ($119K less) · newer homes
Clinton, CT 06413 85%49$124,824$380,000$315 cheaper homes ($227K less)
Pompton Plains, NJ 07444 85%63$117,959$539,000$431 cheaper homes ($68K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Oceanport, NJ 07757 85%55$126,094$757,700$524 pricier homes ($151K more) · 6 min longer commute
Port Monmouth, NJ 07758 85%56$115,298$530,000$401 cheaper homes ($77K less) · smaller · more walkable
Whippany, NJ 07981 85%68$149,893$614,100$444 higher income ($26K more)
Newcastle, CA 95658 85%2,520$126,581$837,700$450 pricier homes ($231K more) · smaller · 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.