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 Fairview, NJ 07022

Fairview: median income $63,606, home value $511,400, $389/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Elizabeth, NJ 07208 91%15$65,511$459,200$321 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Mount Vernon, NY 10550 89%11$60,701$494,300$300 larger
Mount Rainier, MD 20712 86%204$68,846$527,900$298 smaller
East Orange, NJ 07018 85%12$62,564$353,800$271 cheaper homes ($158K less) · larger
Garfield, NJ 07026 85%7$79,700$475,500$381 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Mattapan, MA 02126 84%181$65,709$542,700$400 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Inglewood, CA 90302 84%2,453$73,777$738,900$459 pricier homes ($228K more) · larger
Lawrence, MA 01843 83%195$67,585$429,100$334 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Lowell, MA 01854 83%187$72,709$412,000$330 cheaper homes ($99K less) · larger · younger residents
Orange, NJ 07050 83%13$52,563$364,500$306 cheaper homes ($147K less) · larger
Bridgeport, CT 06605 82%47$56,179$335,500$277 cheaper homes ($176K less) · larger · younger residents
Wallington, NJ 07057 82%6$85,862$528,300$392 Very close on everything we compare
Elizabeth, NJ 07202 82%16$71,250$432,100$318 cheaper homes ($79K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Inglewood, CA 90301 82%2,454$65,806$755,900$561 pricier homes ($245K more) · larger
Roxbury, MA 02119 81%183$48,488$688,600$459 pricier homes ($177K more) · larger
East Orange, NJ 07017 81%11$58,853$374,800$252 cheaper homes ($137K less) · larger
Lynn, MA 01902 80%195$67,046$478,000$348 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · older homes
Chelsea, MA 02150 80%188$72,179$493,500$400 larger · older homes
Fall River, MA 02720 80%161$62,196$398,000$253 cheaper homes ($113K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Fall River, MA 02724 80%159$55,590$402,800$256 cheaper homes ($109K less) · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Kearny, NJ 07032 80%9$79,154$459,400$364 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
North Bergen, NJ 07047 80%2$78,911$473,500$425 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Elizabeth, NJ 07201 80%15$60,080$467,500$296 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · more renters
Panorama City, CA 91402 80%2,451$57,369$624,300$492 pricier homes ($113K more) · larger
Sacramento, CA 95841 80%2,489$61,054$424,500$289 cheaper homes ($87K less) · more single-family homes · newer homes

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.

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