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 Shelter Island, NY 11964

Shelter Island: median income $134,620, home value $1,078,500, $801/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Topanga, CA 90290 80%2,548$149,304$1,567,700$698 pricier homes ($489K more) · larger · more renters
Fall City, WA 98024 75%2,448$160,641$1,107,100$473 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($29K more) · older residents
Clayton, CA 94517 73%2,617$168,921$1,032,100$481 higher income ($34K more) · cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Lyons, CO 80540 72%1,720$139,521$795,500$371 cheaper homes ($283K less) · larger
Wellfleet, MA 02667 71%134$121,110$855,500$627 cheaper homes ($223K less) · older residents
Salinas, CA 93908 70%2,638$156,394$1,091,700$549 larger · 9 min shorter commute
Moss Beach, CA 94038 70%2,657$99,680$1,123,100$789 lower income ($35K less) · pricier homes ($45K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Rye, NH 03870 69%157$140,938$990,700$601 cheaper homes ($88K less) · larger · older residents
Felton, CA 95018 69%2,646$129,464$838,600$661 cheaper homes ($240K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Carnation, WA 98014 69%2,448$164,306$940,600$446 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($138K less) · larger
Fox Island, WA 98333 69%2,485$172,292$1,003,900$482 higher income ($38K more) · cheaper homes ($75K less) · older residents
Chilmark, MA 02535 68%85$153,966$1,888,000$1,176 pricier homes ($810K more) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Lincroft, NJ 07738 68%106$189,000$807,300$470 higher income ($54K more) · cheaper homes ($271K less) · larger
Far Hills, NJ 07931 68%124$201,078$1,165,700$477 higher income ($66K more) · pricier homes ($87K more)
Shrewsbury, NJ 07702 67%104$178,958$811,400$497 higher income ($44K more) · cheaper homes ($267K less) · more walkable
Colts Neck, NJ 07722 67%110$198,994$917,200$474 higher income ($64K more) · cheaper homes ($161K less) · larger
Kenwood, CA 95452 67%2,637$118,986$948,400$883 cheaper homes ($130K less) · smaller · younger residents
Vashon, WA 98070 67%2,476$120,571$790,700$530 cheaper homes ($288K less) · larger · older residents
North Falmouth, MA 02556 66%97$121,810$717,800$491 cheaper homes ($361K less) · 12 min shorter commute
Hampton Falls, NH 03844 66%149$165,509$764,900$354 higher income ($31K more) · cheaper homes ($314K less)
Manasquan, NJ 08736 66%111$174,097$880,900$691 higher income ($39K more) · cheaper homes ($198K less) · larger
Woodinville, WA 98077 66%2,454$184,306$1,206,400$546 higher income ($50K more) · pricier homes ($128K more) · larger
Victor, ID 83455 65%1,971$121,964$789,100$520 cheaper homes ($289K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Eden, UT 84310 65%2,037$130,208$880,700$359 cheaper homes ($198K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Los Gatos, CA 95033 65%2,639$189,118$1,417,200$652 higher income ($54K more) · pricier homes ($339K more) · 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.