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 01604

Worcester: median income $73,505, home value $352,500, $271/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
West Haven, CT 06516 90%92$74,382$291,700$246 cheaper homes ($61K less) · more single-family homes
Cohoes, NY 12047 90%105$66,071$246,800$226 cheaper homes ($106K less) · smaller
Providence, RI 02904 89%33$67,003$339,900$249 newer homes
Providence, RI 02908 89%34$73,081$324,100$240 cheaper homes ($28K less) · older homes
Norfolk, VA 23503 88%437$67,649$293,100$223 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Nashua, NH 03060 87%38$79,855$362,600$302 less walkable
Haverstraw, NY 10927 87%135$75,167$361,100$272 smaller
Manchester, NH 03103 86%52$73,540$342,200$292 less walkable
Chicago, IL 60659 86%816$68,704$371,800$230 6 min longer commute
Seattle, WA 98188 86%2,455$76,438$456,400$323 pricier homes ($104K more) · newer homes
Pawtucket, RI 02860 85%33$61,539$336,100$250 older homes
Garfield, NJ 07026 85%154$79,700$475,500$381 pricier homes ($123K more)
Perth Amboy, NJ 08861 85%177$64,491$370,900$328 Very close on everything we compare
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 85%116$63,652$301,700$229 cheaper homes ($51K less) · less walkable
Bethlehem, PA 18018 85%218$75,417$250,900$195 cheaper homes ($102K less)
Norristown, PA 19401 85%236$69,908$234,000$201 cheaper homes ($119K less)
Claymont, DE 19703 85%256$76,939$284,700$223 cheaper homes ($68K less) · smaller
Norfolk, VA 23505 85%440$58,579$326,300$221 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Hialeah, FL 33014 85%1,230$77,338$424,200$327 pricier homes ($72K more) · newer homes
Pompano Beach, FL 33060 85%1,204$64,819$377,500$330 pricier homes ($25K more) · newer homes
Everett, WA 98201 85%2,445$74,554$499,800$384 pricier homes ($147K more)
Bridgeport, CT 06606 84%103$73,372$289,000$271 cheaper homes ($64K less) · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Plainfield, NJ 07060 84%178$78,602$393,800$348 pricier homes ($41K more)
Maple Shade, NJ 08052 84%231$79,087$250,600$233 cheaper homes ($102K less) · smaller · newer homes
Hollywood, FL 33020 84%1,218$56,473$353,300$324 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.