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 West Springfield, MA 01089

West Springfield: median income $69,371, home value $321,500, $249/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Auburn, ME 04210 91%183$66,647$282,000$208 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Kingston, NY 12401 91%74$69,305$319,700$275 less walkable
Jacksonville, FL 32207 91%957$65,234$307,200$226 more walkable
Manchester, CT 06040 90%24$83,422$259,400$224 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Meriden, CT 06450 90%41$71,250$242,600$211 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Henrico, VA 23228 90%409$70,260$283,500$235 cheaper homes ($38K less) · newer homes
Keene, NH 03431 89%61$79,541$255,500$228 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Carlisle, PA 17013 89%270$71,042$233,300$179 cheaper homes ($88K less)
Newport News, VA 23601 89%404$71,279$243,800$204 cheaper homes ($78K less)
Cincinnati, OH 45215 89%650$69,372$226,400$180 cheaper homes ($95K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55421 89%1,048$70,772$277,300$195 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55428 89%1,055$74,860$299,500$188 Very close on everything we compare
Bristol, CT 06010 88%33$79,314$277,900$229 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
West Haven, CT 06516 88%61$74,382$291,700$246 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Newark, DE 19713 88%233$76,493$292,600$215 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Richmond, VA 23227 88%401$69,187$364,900$242 pricier homes ($43K more) · older residents
Milwaukee, WI 53220 88%783$69,319$229,300$213 cheaper homes ($92K less)
Hamden, CT 06514 87%54$88,900$270,800$217 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Clearwater, FL 33755 87%1,131$62,886$328,700$264 Very close on everything we compare
Madison, WI 53714 87%849$71,519$306,900$258 smaller · more walkable
Metairie, LA 70001 87%1,284$67,923$339,400$197 newer homes
Pendleton, OR 97801 87%2,279$71,639$293,000$197 cheaper homes ($29K less)
West Warwick, RI 02893 86%64$77,608$330,800$268 6 min longer commute
Norwich, CT 06360 86%49$65,539$245,700$203 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Meriden, CT 06451 86%41$71,255$239,800$217 cheaper homes ($82K 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.