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.

Reset

Towns most like Sound Beach, NY 11789

Sound Beach: median income $131,528, home value $428,500, $407/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lake Hopatcong, NJ 07849 93%86$117,298$438,600$329 Very close on everything we compare
Milltown, NJ 08850 90%84$141,601$470,700$410 pricier homes ($42K more) · more walkable
Stanhope, NJ 07874 88%90$132,500$364,000$346 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Ringwood, NJ 07456 87%68$152,414$449,800$302 larger
Seekonk, MA 02771 86%105$120,613$482,800$314 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger
Somerset, MA 02726 85%110$111,046$419,000$345 larger
Higganum, CT 06441 85%41$111,250$393,100$268 cheaper homes ($35K less) · newer homes
Colonia, NJ 07067 85%75$122,713$493,100$393 pricier homes ($65K more) · larger · more walkable
Belford, NJ 07718 85%69$131,531$514,600$423 pricier homes ($86K more) · more walkable
Branchville, NJ 07826 85%94$116,598$392,200$289 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Paxton, MA 01612 84%108$134,083$472,300$295 pricier homes ($44K more)
Holbrook, MA 02343 84%131$115,032$464,700$406 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Swansea, MA 02777 84%106$116,364$445,000$356 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Pequannock, NJ 07440 84%69$147,188$591,500$422 pricier homes ($163K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Succasunna, NJ 07876 84%88$161,304$527,200$324 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($99K more) · newer homes
Lancaster, MA 01523 83%123$134,833$519,100$288 pricier homes ($91K more) · newer homes
Northwood, NH 03261 83%180$129,375$363,000$308 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller · newer homes
Mine Hill, NJ 07803 83%84$119,583$434,100$315 smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Old Lyme, CT 06371 82%43$132,045$499,400$372 pricier homes ($71K more) · older residents
Oakland, NJ 07436 82%66$161,971$591,000$390 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($163K more) · larger
Hopatcong, NJ 07843 82%88$108,651$340,000$366 cheaper homes ($89K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Churchville, MD 21028 82%198$137,586$512,400$279 pricier homes ($84K more) · smaller · newer homes
Orange, CT 06477 81%23$142,325$491,500$290 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger
Andover, NJ 07821 81%93$141,860$431,500$292 less walkable · newer homes
Hampton, NJ 08827 81%106$135,625$443,400$270 smaller · 5 min longer commute · 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.