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 Long Beach, CA 90808

Long Beach: median income $137,855, home value $954,200, $730/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Paramus, NJ 07652 79%2,441$144,349$813,900$504 cheaper homes ($140K less) · more walkable
Smithtown, NY 11787 79%2,486$143,101$679,800$424 cheaper homes ($274K less) · newer homes
Huntington Station, NY 11746 78%2,478$164,589$695,200$444 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($259K less) · larger
East Islip, NY 11730 77%2,488$145,652$594,200$444 cheaper homes ($360K less) · smaller
Hampton Bays, NY 11946 77%2,522$133,918$737,400$659 cheaper homes ($217K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Kaneohe, HI 96744 77%2,559$131,653$1,039,900$690 pricier homes ($86K more) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Sayville, NY 11782 76%2,493$147,672$637,300$507 cheaper homes ($317K less) · smaller
East Northport, NY 11731 75%2,481$161,132$646,600$459 cheaper homes ($308K less) · 8 min longer commute
Marshfield, MA 02050 74%2,611$126,241$679,700$424 cheaper homes ($275K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Oakhurst, NJ 07755 74%2,446$134,338$768,400$582 cheaper homes ($186K less) · smaller · younger residents
Commack, NY 11725 74%2,482$168,281$670,000$463 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($284K less)
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742 73%2,445$123,152$627,200$556 cheaper homes ($327K less) · smaller · more walkable
Deer Park, NY 11729 73%2,480$136,939$539,700$455 cheaper homes ($415K less) · younger residents
Saint James, NY 11780 73%2,489$144,577$723,200$466 cheaper homes ($231K less) · smaller · newer homes
Hauppauge, NY 11788 73%2,487$149,726$653,900$414 cheaper homes ($300K less) · smaller · newer homes
Hicksville, NY 11801 73%2,470$145,788$625,100$528 cheaper homes ($329K less) · 6 min longer commute · more walkable
East Hampton, NY 11937 73%2,539$129,883$1,115,100$875 pricier homes ($161K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Southold, NY 11971 73%2,526$129,507$843,300$587 cheaper homes ($111K less) · smaller · newer homes
Babylon, NY 11702 72%2,481$137,652$626,900$455 cheaper homes ($327K less) · smaller · more walkable
Greenlawn, NY 11740 72%2,478$152,386$693,700$461 cheaper homes ($261K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Framingham, MA 01701 71%2,573$137,094$644,300$395 cheaper homes ($310K less)
Clark, NJ 07066 71%2,430$133,504$609,600$413 cheaper homes ($345K less) · smaller
Farmingdale, NY 11735 71%2,475$139,443$591,500$501 cheaper homes ($363K less) · more apartments and townhomes · more walkable
Reading, MA 01867 70%2,588$165,912$809,000$473 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($145K less) · smaller
Belmar, NJ 07719 70%2,444$119,828$700,900$488 cheaper homes ($253K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes

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.