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 Springfield, MA 01107

Springfield: median income $35,632, home value $243,600, $187/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Louisville, KY 40203 83%743$30,794$197,300$145 cheaper homes ($46K less) · newer homes
Hartford, CT 06106 81%26$46,304$214,200$187 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
New Haven, CT 06519 79%59$49,619$316,700$181 pricier homes ($73K more) · 5 min longer commute
Columbus, OH 43222 78%563$32,321$228,300$140 smaller · more single-family homes
Detroit, MI 48208 78%536$36,194$176,400$195 cheaper homes ($67K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Hartford, CT 06112 76%23$44,460$208,000$144 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Albany, NY 12206 76%71$41,548$162,300$112 cheaper homes ($81K less)
Buffalo, NY 14201 76%324$40,512$337,600$194 pricier homes ($94K more) · older residents
Rochester, NY 14608 75%265$40,646$187,000$97 cheaper homes ($57K less)
New Britain, CT 06051 74%32$51,022$211,500$177 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · older residents
Paterson, NJ 07522 74%116$48,058$290,900$293 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Cincinnati, OH 45229 74%655$32,263$285,900$133 pricier homes ($42K more) · older residents
New Orleans, LA 70113 74%1,284$39,333$305,800$141 pricier homes ($62K more) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Waterbury, CT 06710 73%44$37,191$228,300$154 older residents · 11 min longer commute
Duluth, MN 55805 73%1,011$43,100$189,400$188 cheaper homes ($54K less) · more single-family homes
Willimantic, CT 06226 72%34$47,162$190,000$186 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Spokane, WA 99201 72%2,196$41,171$312,600$207 pricier homes ($69K more) · older residents
Hartford, CT 06114 71%26$52,110$232,800$158 larger · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Louisville, KY 40208 71%744$39,560$188,900$136 cheaper homes ($55K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Columbus, OH 43203 71%560$47,572$319,300$169 pricier homes ($76K more) · newer homes
Fresno, CA 93701 71%2,513$32,768$246,400$172 7 min longer commute · more renters · newer homes
Bridgeport, CT 06607 69%71$50,000$232,700$191 smaller · 10 min longer commute
Buffalo, NY 14207 69%325$39,753$133,600$103 cheaper homes ($110K less) · larger
Pittsburgh, PA 15219 69%400$34,897$214,800$211 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 7 min longer commute · newer homes
Fort Wayne, IN 46802 69%652$46,854$184,800$150 cheaper homes ($59K less) · older residents · more single-family 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.