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 Wading River, NY 11792

Wading River: median income $146,174, home value $597,300, $396/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Riva, MD 21140 91%242$170,156$634,700$298 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller
Mendon, MA 01756 89%103$132,256$616,000$314 more renters
Assonet, MA 02702 89%109$153,038$516,100$293 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller
Rehoboth, MA 02769 89%103$138,214$563,000$323 cheaper homes ($34K less) · older residents
West Kingston, RI 02892 89%74$135,809$490,600$269 cheaper homes ($107K less) · smaller
Succasunna, NJ 07876 89%95$161,304$527,200$324 cheaper homes ($70K less) · older homes
Pipersville, PA 18947 89%124$140,783$615,000$302 Very close on everything we compare
Berkley, MA 02779 88%110$144,205$511,200$328 cheaper homes ($86K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Auburn, NH 03032 88%160$153,253$600,300$294 Very close on everything we compare
Cream Ridge, NJ 08514 88%102$134,038$580,900$325 smaller
Rescue, CA 95672 88%2,527$146,769$767,400$331 pricier homes ($170K more) · smaller · older residents
Pembroke, MA 02359 87%130$146,285$586,500$392 larger
Andover, NJ 07821 87%100$141,860$431,500$292 cheaper homes ($166K less)
Jupiter, FL 33478 87%1,057$139,091$699,400$460 pricier homes ($102K more) · larger · older residents
Groveland, MA 01834 86%155$141,487$610,900$389 more apartments and townhomes
Rochester, MA 02770 86%117$120,320$601,200$348 lower income ($26K less) · smaller
Nottingham, NH 03290 86%174$122,201$457,500$345 cheaper homes ($140K less) · smaller
Morrison, CO 80465 86%1,697$132,292$685,300$312 pricier homes ($88K more) · larger
Lakeville, MA 02347 85%115$133,984$565,900$358 cheaper homes ($31K less) · more renters
Marstons Mills, MA 02648 85%135$129,681$593,600$438 older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Chester, NH 03036 85%161$142,212$552,300$298 cheaper homes ($45K less) · smaller · older residents
Litchfield, NH 03052 85%149$162,036$485,000$337 cheaper homes ($112K less) · more renters
Oxford, CT 06478 85%36$128,953$472,400$285 cheaper homes ($125K less)
Sandy Hook, CT 06482 85%38$159,828$499,200$285 cheaper homes ($98K less)
Ringwood, NJ 07456 85%75$152,414$449,800$302 cheaper homes ($148K less) · older 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.