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 Worcester, MA 01603

Worcester: median income $66,049, home value $331,300, $257/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Providence, RI 02908 95%35$73,081$324,100$240 larger
Providence, RI 02905 91%39$62,908$371,900$258 pricier homes ($41K more) · 5 min longer commute
Pawtucket, RI 02860 90%34$61,539$336,100$250 larger
Bristol, PA 19007 88%215$65,511$290,300$256 cheaper homes ($41K less) · newer homes
Providence, RI 02909 87%36$64,649$325,300$250 larger
Paterson, NJ 07504 87%151$76,659$381,600$294 pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller
Wilmington, DE 19805 87%261$60,221$237,100$204 cheaper homes ($94K less) · larger
Melrose Park, IL 60160 87%821$66,189$275,800$230 cheaper homes ($56K less) · newer homes
Woonsocket, RI 02895 85%24$61,059$311,000$228 larger · more renters
Prospect Park, PA 19076 85%243$64,231$244,000$229 cheaper homes ($87K less) · smaller
Providence, RI 02907 84%37$52,485$349,200$213 larger · more renters
New London, CT 06320 84%63$59,170$253,300$223 cheaper homes ($78K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Easton, PA 18042 84%207$77,556$230,200$186 cheaper homes ($101K less) · larger
Haverstraw, NY 10927 83%132$75,167$361,100$272 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller · newer homes
Clifton, NJ 07011 82%152$74,194$428,900$426 pricier homes ($98K more) · larger · older residents
Paterson, NJ 07502 82%152$76,790$375,300$381 pricier homes ($44K more) · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60609 82%811$58,896$268,300$213 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Bridgeport, CT 06606 81%101$73,372$289,000$271 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · newer homes
Plainfield, NJ 07060 81%175$78,602$393,800$348 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger
Cohoes, NY 12047 81%102$66,071$246,800$226 cheaper homes ($85K less) · newer homes
Troy, NY 12182 81%100$56,984$212,600$170 cheaper homes ($119K less)
Schenectady, NY 12308 81%113$63,434$211,900$159 cheaper homes ($119K less)
Bethlehem, PA 18015 81%216$60,800$281,700$184 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · newer homes
Bremerton, WA 98337 81%2,468$68,561$417,700$268 pricier homes ($86K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
New Britain, CT 06053 80%62$62,645$220,800$214 cheaper homes ($111K less) · larger · newer 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.