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 Sayville, NY 11782

Sayville: median income $147,672, home value $637,300, $507/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Burlington, MA 01803 93%156$146,436$740,600$441 pricier homes ($103K more) · larger
Framingham, MA 01701 92%138$137,094$644,300$395 larger
Chelmsford, MA 01824 92%156$140,050$619,700$384 larger
Denville, NJ 07834 92%74$156,902$555,600$418 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Clark, NJ 07066 91%65$133,504$609,600$413 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Butler, NJ 07405 91%72$135,169$569,800$342 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Park Ridge, NJ 07656 91%54$171,029$706,200$429 pricier homes ($69K more) · smaller
North Reading, MA 01864 90%163$147,768$710,500$425 pricier homes ($73K more)
Northvale, NJ 07647 90%48$128,542$602,800$451 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
Middletown, NJ 07748 90%59$152,981$600,600$413 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Reading, MA 01867 89%160$165,912$809,000$473 pricier homes ($172K more) · larger
Marshfield, MA 02050 89%155$126,241$679,700$424 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger
Fairfield, CT 06825 89%32$135,504$630,600$395 larger
Littleton, MA 01460 88%149$149,722$658,300$374 Very close on everything we compare
Millis, MA 02054 88%133$155,996$603,500$369 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller
Ramsey, NJ 07446 88%59$160,996$697,300$450 pricier homes ($60K more)
Dedham, MA 02026 87%144$128,955$661,800$448 larger
North Easton, MA 02356 87%137$127,224$650,300$348 newer homes
Boonton, NJ 07005 87%70$132,629$587,100$365 cheaper homes ($50K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Belmar, NJ 07719 87%65$119,828$700,900$488 lower income ($28K less) · pricier homes ($64K more) · larger
Ipswich, MA 01938 86%177$138,750$745,400$421 pricier homes ($108K more) · more apartments and townhomes
East Greenwich, RI 02818 86%105$139,217$613,500$342 Very close on everything we compare
Caldwell, NJ 07006 86%63$149,102$694,400$434 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Scotch Plains, NJ 07076 86%68$183,655$718,200$475 higher income ($36K more) · pricier homes ($81K more) · larger
Montvale, NJ 07645 86%54$178,269$709,700$466 higher income ($31K more) · pricier homes ($72K more) · smaller

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.