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 Lawrence, MA 01843

Lawrence: median income $67,585, home value $429,100, $334/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Paterson, NJ 07503 92%198$60,443$350,900$320 cheaper homes ($78K less)
Elizabeth, NJ 07202 91%211$71,250$432,100$318 larger
Paterson, NJ 07514 91%196$70,205$342,900$302 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Elizabeth, NJ 07208 90%211$65,511$459,200$321 pricier homes ($30K more) · 7 min longer commute
Paterson, NJ 07513 90%197$68,630$423,500$390 smaller
Perth Amboy, NJ 08861 90%220$64,491$370,900$328 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger
Plainfield, NJ 07060 87%221$78,602$393,800$348 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Pawtucket, RI 02860 86%58$61,539$336,100$250 cheaper homes ($93K less) · larger
Garfield, NJ 07026 84%197$79,700$475,500$381 pricier homes ($46K more) · more homeowners
Paterson, NJ 07504 84%197$76,659$381,600$294 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller · older homes
Fairview, NJ 07022 83%195$63,606$511,400$389 pricier homes ($82K more) · smaller · 8 min longer commute
Woonsocket, RI 02895 82%52$61,059$311,000$228 cheaper homes ($118K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Providence, RI 02909 82%62$64,649$325,300$250 cheaper homes ($104K less) · larger · older homes
Bridgeport, CT 06605 82%149$56,179$335,500$277 cheaper homes ($94K less) · 7 min longer commute
Elizabeth, NJ 07201 82%210$60,080$467,500$296 pricier homes ($38K more) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Sacramento, CA 95841 82%2,605$61,054$424,500$289 newer homes
Passaic, NJ 07055 81%198$55,371$429,900$337 larger · older homes
Reno, NV 89502 81%2,506$65,328$413,200$310 larger · newer homes
Providence, RI 02908 80%61$73,081$324,100$240 cheaper homes ($105K less) · more homeowners · older homes
Lakewood, WA 98499 80%2,485$67,292$408,500$327 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Providence, RI 02907 79%63$52,485$349,200$213 cheaper homes ($80K less) · older homes
Orange, NJ 07050 79%207$52,563$364,500$306 cheaper homes ($65K less) · 9 min longer commute
Hollywood, FL 33020 79%1,259$56,473$353,300$324 cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Phoenix, AZ 85015 79%2,290$54,874$345,000$247 cheaper homes ($84K less) · larger · newer homes
Sacramento, CA 95825 79%2,611$64,602$440,200$292 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.