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 Indian Orchard, MA 01151

Indian Orchard: median income $55,324, home value $237,200, $219/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Waterbury, CT 06706 94%50$52,242$210,700$188 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
East Hartford, CT 06108 92%26$56,663$230,500$205 larger
Allentown, PA 18109 91%185$58,031$198,800$195 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Prospect Park, PA 19076 90%214$64,231$244,000$229 Very close on everything we compare
Troy, NY 12182 89%73$56,984$212,600$170 larger
Saint Paul, MN 55130 89%1,046$54,130$236,000$170 larger · younger residents
Trenton, NJ 08618 88%178$50,390$227,000$186 larger
Newport News, VA 23605 88%412$53,815$194,900$216 cheaper homes ($42K less) · newer homes
Portsmouth, VA 23704 88%420$49,583$230,300$175 larger
Saint Paul, MN 55103 88%1,047$48,390$257,500$205 Very close on everything we compare
New Britain, CT 06053 86%35$62,645$220,800$214 larger
New York Mills, NY 13417 86%156$59,453$205,500$169 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller
Portsmouth, VA 23702 85%422$48,835$208,000$184 cheaper homes ($29K less) · more single-family homes
Milwaukee, WI 53225 85%791$56,545$188,400$163 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
San Antonio, TX 78204 85%1,693$60,255$173,100$207 cheaper homes ($64K less) · more single-family homes
Gloucester City, NJ 08030 84%207$63,384$179,200$196 cheaper homes ($58K less) · more homeowners · older homes
Brooklyn, MD 21225 84%295$54,020$229,000$187 larger · 7 min longer commute
Melrose Park, IL 60160 84%787$66,189$275,800$230 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Willimantic, CT 06226 83%34$47,162$190,000$186 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
New London, CT 06320 83%59$59,170$253,300$223 larger
Waterbury, CT 06705 83%49$53,954$202,400$198 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · newer homes
Paulsboro, NJ 08066 83%214$65,070$200,200$207 cheaper homes ($37K less) · more single-family homes
Watervliet, NY 12189 83%73$65,276$220,600$193 larger · older residents
Norfolk, VA 23502 83%416$63,208$266,200$209 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Sioux Falls, SD 57104 82%1,227$57,688$202,800$167 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · 6 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.