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 01605

Worcester: median income $54,642, home value $392,100, $270/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bridgeport, CT 06605 92%107$56,179$335,500$277 cheaper homes ($57K less) · 6 min longer commute
Phoenix, AZ 85015 89%2,257$54,874$345,000$247 cheaper homes ($47K less) · newer homes
Norfolk, VA 23505 87%442$58,579$326,300$221 cheaper homes ($66K less) · more single-family homes
Nashville, TN 37210 86%904$50,284$355,600$315 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · newer homes
Sacramento, CA 95825 86%2,585$64,602$440,200$292 pricier homes ($48K more) · newer homes
Paterson, NJ 07503 85%156$60,443$350,900$320 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller
Orange, NJ 07050 84%164$52,563$364,500$306 cheaper homes ($28K less) · 8 min longer commute
Newark, NJ 07104 83%162$53,978$388,800$219 larger · 7 min longer commute
Elizabeth, NJ 07208 83%168$65,511$459,200$321 pricier homes ($67K more) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Hollywood, FL 33020 83%1,220$56,473$353,300$324 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · older residents
Pawtucket, RI 02860 82%35$61,539$336,100$250 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger · older homes
Woonsocket, RI 02895 82%25$61,059$311,000$228 cheaper homes ($81K less) · 5 min longer commute
Providence, RI 02907 82%39$52,485$349,200$213 cheaper homes ($43K less) · older homes
New London, CT 06320 82%67$59,170$253,300$223 cheaper homes ($139K less) · older homes
Sacramento, CA 95841 82%2,580$61,054$424,500$289 pricier homes ($32K more) · newer homes
New Haven, CT 06519 81%91$49,619$316,700$181 cheaper homes ($75K less) · smaller
Salt Lake City, UT 84115 79%2,059$65,548$434,700$306 pricier homes ($43K more) · newer homes
Newark, NJ 07112 78%166$58,200$336,500$193 cheaper homes ($56K less) · 9 min longer commute
Perth Amboy, NJ 08861 78%178$64,491$370,900$328 larger · older residents
New Brunswick, NJ 08901 78%186$65,810$353,800$341 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · younger residents
Columbus, OH 43203 78%603$47,572$319,300$169 cheaper homes ($73K less) · smaller
New Orleans, LA 70119 78%1,324$53,143$371,000$195 older residents · older homes
Phoenix, AZ 85021 78%2,255$59,768$470,400$321 pricier homes ($78K more) · newer homes
Providence, RI 02909 77%37$64,649$325,300$250 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger · older homes
Chicago, IL 60612 77%815$60,922$364,600$292 cheaper homes ($28K less) · 8 min longer commute · 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.