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 Northampton, MA 01060

Northampton: median income $76,848, home value $453,400, $344/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Portland, ME 04102 91%150$82,751$503,500$388 pricier homes ($50K more)
Milwaukee, WI 53211 87%775$75,256$434,500$282 larger · younger residents
West Hartford, CT 06119 86%39$99,688$378,400$281 cheaper homes ($75K less)
New Orleans, LA 70115 86%1,293$90,182$643,100$342 pricier homes ($190K more) · larger
Buffalo, NY 14222 83%320$81,652$407,600$217 cheaper homes ($46K less) · younger residents
Pittsburgh, PA 15206 83%398$72,920$317,600$235 cheaper homes ($136K less) · larger
Minneapolis, MN 55405 83%1,047$73,053$467,700$244 younger residents
New Orleans, LA 70130 83%1,292$80,212$562,800$325 pricier homes ($109K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Pittsburgh, PA 15217 82%400$95,668$455,100$281 larger · more single-family homes
Cincinnati, OH 45209 82%655$93,420$400,700$289 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller · younger residents
Richmond, VA 23221 81%418$99,816$582,000$405 pricier homes ($129K more)
Saint Paul, MN 55116 81%1,040$81,141$418,200$260 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15201 80%400$93,231$293,300$271 cheaper homes ($160K less) · younger residents
Saint Paul, MN 55102 79%1,038$76,406$292,200$225 cheaper homes ($161K less)
Saint Louis, MO 63110 79%959$81,655$339,900$208 cheaper homes ($114K less) · more single-family homes
Tacoma, WA 98403 78%2,425$88,056$829,800$391 pricier homes ($376K more) · smaller
Saint Paul, MN 55108 77%1,041$86,308$375,600$233 cheaper homes ($78K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Denver, CO 80218 77%1,685$81,706$676,700$398 pricier homes ($223K more) · more renters · newer homes
Providence, RI 02906 76%72$103,050$638,600$395 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($185K more) · larger
Evanston, IL 60201 76%770$90,545$590,700$370 pricier homes ($137K more) · larger · newer homes
Salt Lake City, UT 84103 76%2,014$83,916$779,200$375 pricier homes ($326K more) · newer homes
Highland Park, NJ 08904 75%157$104,694$471,700$342 higher income ($28K more) · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Norfolk, VA 23507 75%425$104,295$555,200$223 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($102K more) · smaller
Louisville, KY 40204 75%745$71,116$329,000$220 cheaper homes ($124K less) · more single-family homes
Buffalo, NY 14216 74%319$69,629$294,700$200 cheaper homes ($159K less)

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.