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 Altadena, CA 91001

Altadena: median income $134,903, home value $1,135,200, $749/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Paramus, NJ 07652 80%2,432$144,349$813,900$504 cheaper homes ($321K less) · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98177 76%962$169,918$1,048,900$544 higher income ($35K more) · cheaper homes ($86K less) · smaller
New Hyde Park, NY 11040 73%2,453$154,696$808,500$646 cheaper homes ($327K less) · 9 min longer commute · more walkable
Hicksville, NY 11801 72%2,461$145,788$625,100$528 cheaper homes ($510K less) · 6 min longer commute
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742 71%2,437$123,152$627,200$556 cheaper homes ($508K less) · newer homes
Floral Park, NY 11001 70%2,452$150,000$765,000$563 cheaper homes ($370K less) · 9 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
East Meadow, NY 11554 70%2,460$133,971$631,800$560 cheaper homes ($503K less) · 7 min longer commute
Babylon, NY 11702 70%2,472$137,652$626,900$455 cheaper homes ($508K less) · smaller
Great Neck, NY 11020 69%2,451$167,148$1,132,200$750 higher income ($32K more) · smaller · 8 min longer commute
Honolulu, HI 96821 69%2,562$174,938$1,563,300$931 higher income ($40K more) · pricier homes ($428K more) · smaller
Locust Valley, NY 11560 68%2,457$163,750$952,700$562 higher income ($29K more) · cheaper homes ($183K less) · smaller
Farmingdale, NY 11735 68%2,466$139,443$591,500$501 cheaper homes ($544K less) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Massapequa, NY 11758 68%2,465$154,110$653,800$504 cheaper homes ($481K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Dedham, MA 02026 67%2,576$128,955$661,800$448 cheaper homes ($473K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Milton, MA 02186 67%2,581$188,033$933,200$547 higher income ($53K more) · cheaper homes ($202K less) · younger residents
Oakhurst, NJ 07755 67%2,438$134,338$768,400$582 cheaper homes ($367K less) · smaller · younger residents
Manasquan, NJ 08736 67%2,436$174,097$880,900$691 higher income ($39K more) · cheaper homes ($254K less) · smaller
Franklin Square, NY 11010 67%2,454$142,321$665,800$609 cheaper homes ($469K less) · younger residents · 8 min longer commute
Bellmore, NY 11710 67%2,461$173,054$672,500$510 higher income ($38K more) · cheaper homes ($463K less) · 7 min longer commute
Kaneohe, HI 96744 67%2,561$131,653$1,039,900$690 cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Cranford, NJ 07016 66%2,421$155,972$660,100$469 cheaper homes ($475K less) · 7 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Sayville, NY 11782 66%2,484$147,672$637,300$507 cheaper homes ($498K less) · smaller · newer homes
Wantagh, NY 11793 66%2,462$167,068$659,500$503 higher income ($32K more) · cheaper homes ($476K less) · 7 min longer commute
Reading, MA 01867 65%2,578$165,912$809,000$473 higher income ($31K more) · cheaper homes ($326K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Great Neck, NY 11023 65%2,450$141,003$1,143,400$620 smaller · younger residents · 9 min longer commute

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.