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 Pittsfield, MA 01201

Pittsfield: median income $71,093, home value $259,800, $211/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Carlisle, PA 17013 91%256$71,042$233,300$179 cheaper homes ($27K less) · newer homes
Cincinnati, OH 45215 91%626$69,372$226,400$180 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Auburn, ME 04210 90%189$66,647$282,000$208 smaller
Manchester, CT 06040 88%60$83,422$259,400$224 younger residents
Meriden, CT 06450 88%68$71,250$242,600$211 newer homes
Schenectady, NY 12306 87%44$83,202$222,500$213 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Kingston, NY 12401 87%54$69,305$319,700$275 pricier homes ($60K more) · less walkable
Buffalo, NY 14217 87%288$73,800$207,500$195 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller
Lebanon, PA 17042 87%219$74,831$237,300$186 newer homes
South Milwaukee, WI 53172 87%742$73,427$235,700$216 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Appleton, WI 54911 87%770$67,001$216,100$174 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller · younger residents
Torrington, CT 06790 86%45$70,912$215,600$191 cheaper homes ($44K less) · 6 min longer commute
Schenectady, NY 12303 86%42$84,375$238,100$226 smaller
Tonawanda, NY 14150 86%287$71,406$200,700$205 cheaper homes ($59K less) · more single-family homes
Cleveland, OH 44130 86%446$69,655$195,500$188 cheaper homes ($64K less) · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Grand Rapids, MI 49505 86%629$74,906$246,700$214 younger residents
Milwaukee, WI 53219 86%749$70,388$203,900$211 cheaper homes ($56K less) · more walkable
Keene, NH 03431 85%60$79,541$255,500$228 smaller
Rutland, VT 05701 85%81$61,610$217,700$192 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller · older residents
Bristol, CT 06010 85%56$79,314$277,900$229 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Schenectady, NY 12304 85%41$69,235$179,200$226 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller
Auburn, NY 13021 85%172$60,712$180,700$144 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Depew, NY 14043 85%279$74,112$212,100$204 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller · newer homes
North Tonawanda, NY 14120 85%287$74,871$222,500$215 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Buffalo, NY 14220 85%284$70,963$186,200$177 cheaper homes ($74K less) · smaller · older 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.