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 Montclair, NJ 07042

Montclair: median income $122,847, home value $821,700, $590/sq ft, 33-minute commute. We used 07042, the largest of 2 ZIP codes named Montclair; enter a ZIP code to compare a different one.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Medford, MA 02155 86%195$129,700$755,500$496 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger
Mamaroneck, NY 10543 85%27$126,417$729,600$560 cheaper homes ($92K less) · newer homes
Roslindale, MA 02131 84%189$111,006$664,700$517 cheaper homes ($157K less) · more homeowners
Arlington, MA 02474 84%193$150,560$933,200$598 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($112K more) · more homeowners
Watertown, MA 02472 82%190$126,336$784,600$507 cheaper homes ($37K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Oakland, CA 94609 82%2,544$107,834$1,207,700$653 pricier homes ($386K more) · more renters
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 80%191$131,551$822,300$642 more apartments and townhomes
Tarrytown, NY 10591 80%27$104,984$681,000$564 cheaper homes ($141K less) · newer homes
Quincy, MA 02170 78%193$103,627$668,300$487 cheaper homes ($153K less)
Melrose, MA 02176 78%199$133,953$822,900$494 more homeowners
Arlington, MA 02476 78%192$151,131$934,800$609 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($113K more) · smaller
Washington, DC 20012 78%196$121,418$863,900$421 pricier homes ($42K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Berkeley, CA 94703 78%2,544$109,881$1,359,000$913 pricier homes ($537K more)
Newton, MA 02458 77%189$153,520$1,136,100$544 higher income ($31K more) · pricier homes ($314K more) · smaller
Nyack, NY 10960 77%25$125,789$681,000$440 cheaper homes ($141K less) · smaller · newer homes
Oakland, CA 94610 77%2,544$134,507$1,379,700$642 pricier homes ($558K more) · newer homes
Quincy, MA 02171 76%194$106,885$662,900$512 cheaper homes ($159K less) · newer homes
Albany, CA 94706 76%2,544$143,398$1,203,500$836 pricier homes ($382K more) · newer homes
Harrison, NY 10528 75%28$154,416$937,500$598 higher income ($32K more) · pricier homes ($116K more) · smaller
Tuckahoe, NY 10707 75%23$130,957$773,200$493 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller · older residents
Somerville, MA 02145 74%195$123,755$828,600$598 younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Philadelphia, PA 19118 74%73$109,649$718,300$399 cheaper homes ($103K less) · smaller · older residents
Alameda, CA 94501 74%2,546$127,906$1,250,300$717 pricier homes ($429K more) · larger · newer homes
Sacramento, CA 95818 74%2,488$118,196$790,200$512 cheaper homes ($32K less) · 9 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Providence, RI 02906 73%162$103,050$638,600$395 cheaper homes ($183K less) · 9 min shorter 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.