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 Lakewood, CA 90712

Lakewood: median income $122,435, home value $829,600, $619/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Deer Park, NY 11729 84%2,482$136,939$539,700$455 cheaper homes ($290K less)
West Babylon, NY 11704 83%2,480$129,195$527,500$459 cheaper homes ($302K less)
Lindenhurst, NY 11757 81%2,479$127,889$508,100$439 cheaper homes ($322K less)
Clark, NJ 07066 80%2,431$133,504$609,600$413 cheaper homes ($220K less) · smaller · older residents
Farmingdale, NY 11735 80%2,476$139,443$591,500$501 cheaper homes ($238K less)
Franklin Square, NY 11010 79%2,463$142,321$665,800$609 cheaper homes ($164K less) · 7 min longer commute · more walkable
Oakhurst, NJ 07755 78%2,447$134,338$768,400$582 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller
Hicksville, NY 11801 78%2,471$145,788$625,100$528 cheaper homes ($205K less) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Kaneohe, HI 96744 78%2,557$131,653$1,039,900$690 pricier homes ($210K more) · larger · older residents
Seattle, WA 98178 78%966$99,505$660,400$367 cheaper homes ($169K less)
Braintree, MA 02184 77%2,596$122,214$656,800$428 cheaper homes ($173K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Uniondale, NY 11553 77%2,468$121,127$511,600$510 cheaper homes ($318K less) · more walkable
Westbury, NY 11590 77%2,469$152,960$633,800$516 higher income ($31K more) · cheaper homes ($196K less) · larger
Bethpage, NY 11714 77%2,473$120,172$600,700$496 cheaper homes ($229K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98146 77%968$102,520$679,500$451 cheaper homes ($150K less) · more apartments and townhomes
East Islip, NY 11730 76%2,489$145,652$594,200$444 cheaper homes ($235K less) · smaller · older residents
Seattle, WA 98166 76%965$114,969$824,400$420 older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Pearl River, NY 10965 75%2,444$132,660$596,700$395 cheaper homes ($233K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Ronkonkoma, NY 11779 75%2,491$112,180$487,300$436 cheaper homes ($342K less) · newer homes
Lynn, MA 01904 74%2,597$99,614$560,500$391 cheaper homes ($269K less)
Bergenfield, NJ 07621 74%2,446$130,045$491,500$484 cheaper homes ($338K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Elmont, NY 11003 74%2,462$124,115$599,000$555 cheaper homes ($231K less) · 11 min longer commute · more walkable
East Meadow, NY 11554 74%2,470$133,971$631,800$560 cheaper homes ($198K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Copiague, NY 11726 74%2,478$128,425$481,500$468 cheaper homes ($348K less)
Levittown, NY 11756 74%2,472$146,019$584,300$460 cheaper homes ($245K less) · more homeowners

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.