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 Wantagh, NY 11793

Wantagh: median income $167,068, home value $659,500, $503/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Springfield, VA 22151 85%236$156,015$655,800$350 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Rockville, MD 20853 83%220$159,080$631,900$302 cheaper homes ($28K less)
West Hills, CA 91307 82%2,488$151,190$963,900$569 pricier homes ($304K more) · more renters
Colonia, NJ 07067 81%43$122,713$493,100$393 lower income ($44K less) · cheaper homes ($166K less) · smaller
Paramus, NJ 07652 81%34$144,349$813,900$504 pricier homes ($154K more) · older residents · more renters
Middletown, NJ 07748 80%38$152,981$600,600$413 cheaper homes ($59K less) · less walkable · newer homes
Oakland, NJ 07436 79%45$161,971$591,000$390 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Emerson, NJ 07630 79%34$155,536$645,200$413 smaller · older residents
Waldwick, NJ 07463 78%39$177,962$588,500$462 cheaper homes ($71K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Belford, NJ 07718 77%36$131,531$514,600$423 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($145K less) · smaller
Hillsdale, NJ 07642 76%36$186,688$677,500$447 smaller · 7 min shorter commute · less walkable
Milltown, NJ 08850 76%51$141,601$470,700$410 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($189K less) · smaller
Scotch Plains, NJ 07076 75%45$183,655$718,200$475 pricier homes ($59K more) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
South Plainfield, NJ 07080 75%48$130,205$470,900$386 lower income ($37K less) · cheaper homes ($189K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Teaneck, NJ 07666 75%30$144,075$546,100$431 cheaper homes ($113K less) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Cedar Grove, NJ 07009 74%39$151,625$633,900$422 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Cranford, NJ 07016 74%42$155,972$660,100$469 more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Fair Lawn, NJ 07410 74%36$144,574$564,700$462 cheaper homes ($95K less) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Denville, NJ 07834 74%53$156,902$555,600$418 cheaper homes ($104K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Bowie, MD 20715 74%208$143,732$452,600$257 cheaper homes ($207K less)
Whittier, CA 90603 74%2,462$136,705$859,000$552 lower income ($30K less) · pricier homes ($200K more) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98177 74%2,426$169,918$1,048,900$544 pricier homes ($389K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Trumbull, CT 06611 73%42$163,073$547,300$317 cheaper homes ($112K less) · less walkable
Cresskill, NJ 07626 73%30$170,376$811,400$547 pricier homes ($152K more) · smaller · more renters
Township Of Washington, NJ 07676 73%36$180,133$664,000$432 smaller · less walkable

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.