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 01119

Springfield: median income $57,857, home value $245,100, $251/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wyoming, MI 49509 91%673$65,132$202,100$208 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Portsmouth, VA 23701 89%421$62,349$235,200$203 larger · 5 min longer commute
Aberdeen, WA 98520 87%2,502$58,153$250,800$169 larger
Henrico, VA 23075 86%407$55,567$222,700$224 smaller
Des Moines, IA 50317 86%1,079$65,617$177,600$203 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger
Hampton, VA 23661 85%409$65,446$220,500$197 older residents
Racine, WI 53405 85%781$69,242$174,000$185 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger
Pennsville, NJ 08070 84%232$75,697$214,700$200 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Knoxville, TN 37914 84%740$59,856$218,300$186 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Louisville, KY 40213 84%747$55,897$173,600$169 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Des Moines, IA 50313 84%1,084$68,361$175,100$187 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Butte, MT 59701 84%1,987$60,437$248,200$181 larger
Midlothian, IL 60445 84%783$70,634$208,000$197 cheaper homes ($37K less) · 8 min longer commute
Buffalo, NY 14225 83%322$67,237$170,400$202 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger
Saint Louis, MO 63125 83%968$61,624$178,600$155 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger
East Hartford, CT 06118 82%27$79,740$229,200$241 larger
Wilmington, DE 19804 82%232$79,701$264,100$219 Very close on everything we compare
Norfolk, VA 23509 82%414$72,816$258,000$211 more renters
Panama City, FL 32401 82%1,102$52,523$230,500$197 older residents · more renters
Chattanooga, TN 37411 82%843$56,579$232,300$162 more renters
Latonia, KY 41015 82%664$65,683$187,700$156 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger
Dearborn Heights, MI 48127 82%551$60,742$231,800$174 larger
Hoquiam, WA 98550 82%2,506$55,040$238,900$155 less walkable
Spokane, WA 99212 82%2,194$67,049$361,500$211 pricier homes ($116K more) · larger · newer homes
Windsor Locks, CT 06096 81%15$81,205$258,800$226 Very close on everything we compare

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.