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 Oyster Bay, NY 11771

Oyster Bay: median income $157,923, home value $936,300, $484/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Reading, MA 01867 91%170$165,912$809,000$473 cheaper homes ($127K less) · larger
Montvale, NJ 07645 91%30$178,269$709,700$466 cheaper homes ($227K less)
Ramsey, NJ 07446 90%35$160,996$697,300$450 cheaper homes ($239K less)
Scotch Plains, NJ 07076 88%47$183,655$718,200$475 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($218K less) · larger
Lynnfield, MA 01940 87%173$173,214$905,400$418 cheaper homes ($31K less) · more homeowners
Caldwell, NJ 07006 87%39$149,102$694,400$434 cheaper homes ($242K less) · larger
Fairfield, CT 06825 86%27$135,504$630,600$395 cheaper homes ($306K less) · larger
Park Ridge, NJ 07656 86%29$171,029$706,200$429 cheaper homes ($230K less) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Westwood, NJ 07675 86%27$183,154$719,400$453 higher income ($25K more) · cheaper homes ($217K less) · larger
Burlington, MA 01803 85%165$146,436$740,600$441 cheaper homes ($196K less) · larger · newer homes
Ipswich, MA 01938 85%186$138,750$745,400$421 cheaper homes ($191K less) · older residents
Cresskill, NJ 07626 85%23$170,376$811,400$547 cheaper homes ($125K less) · more walkable
Framingham, MA 01701 84%147$137,094$644,300$395 cheaper homes ($292K less) · larger
North Reading, MA 01864 84%173$147,768$710,500$425 cheaper homes ($226K less) · newer homes
Cedar Grove, NJ 07009 84%37$151,625$633,900$422 cheaper homes ($302K less) · more walkable
Dedham, MA 02026 83%155$128,955$661,800$448 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($275K less) · larger
Cranford, NJ 07016 83%43$155,972$660,100$469 cheaper homes ($276K less) · larger
Fullerton, CA 92835 83%2,457$143,817$1,052,500$603 pricier homes ($116K more) · larger · more walkable
Chelmsford, MA 01824 82%164$140,050$619,700$384 cheaper homes ($317K less) · larger
River Edge, NJ 07661 82%27$159,028$660,300$499 cheaper homes ($276K less) · more walkable
Wakefield, MA 01880 81%170$134,306$723,500$468 cheaper homes ($213K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Clark, NJ 07066 81%44$133,504$609,600$413 cheaper homes ($327K less)
Watchung, NJ 07069 81%51$171,705$883,300$405 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller · older residents
Allendale, NJ 07401 81%34$160,162$782,700$485 cheaper homes ($154K less) · smaller
Butler, NJ 07405 81%48$135,169$569,800$342 cheaper homes ($367K less) · larger

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.