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 01608

Worcester: median income $45,687, home value $153,600, $252/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kansas City, MO 64106 78%1,209$52,564$238,000$173 pricier homes ($84K more) · larger
Allentown, PA 18101 75%222$44,773$171,300$136 6 min longer commute
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401 75%1,015$35,060$157,100$198 smaller · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Baltimore, MD 21201 73%325$45,640$275,300$178 pricier homes ($122K more) · larger
Pittsburgh, PA 15219 71%442$34,897$214,800$211 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger · more homeowners
Saint Louis, MO 63102 70%996$65,527$192,100$146 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller
Minneapolis, MN 55404 68%1,087$41,940$291,600$223 pricier homes ($138K more) · larger
Baltimore, MD 21202 63%324$59,377$271,800$203 pricier homes ($118K more) · larger · older residents
Lincoln, NE 68508 63%1,287$31,191$143,600$329 larger · younger residents · 8 min shorter commute
Schenectady, NY 12305 62%115$53,326$217,500$213 pricier homes ($64K more) · older residents · older homes
Louisville, KY 40202 62%785$35,584$257,300$258 pricier homes ($104K more) · older residents
Trenton, NJ 08608 61%209$61,201$132,400$158 smaller · 11 min longer commute
Wilkes Barre, PA 18701 61%222$33,329$203,600— pricier homes ($50K more) · younger residents · less walkable
Omaha, NE 68131 60%1,243$48,925$227,200$161 pricier homes ($74K more) · larger · more homeowners
Dallas, TX 75237 60%1,519$44,318$247,500$201 pricier homes ($94K more) · larger · less walkable
Saint Louis, MO 63103 59%998$40,943$202,900$124 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger · older homes
Fresno, CA 93721 58%2,552$40,033$243,800$157 pricier homes ($90K more) · older residents
Saint Paul, MN 55101 57%1,078$64,863$260,400$210 pricier homes ($107K more) · larger · older residents
San Antonio, TX 78229 57%1,728$46,574$228,900$135 pricier homes ($75K more) · larger · less walkable
Hartford, CT 06103 56%56$71,677$275,000$256 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($121K more) · smaller
Syracuse, NY 13202 56%227$27,000$88,500$202 cheaper homes ($65K less) · 7 min shorter commute · older homes
Wilmington, DE 19801 56%262$52,810$199,900$143 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · older residents
Hartford, CT 06120 54%56$34,830$184,400$156 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Denton, TX 76201 54%1,511$39,982$257,700$188 pricier homes ($104K more) · larger · more homeowners
Jacksonville, FL 32202 53%989$34,825$268,800$159 pricier homes ($115K more) · older residents

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.