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 Lowell, MA 01854

Lowell: median income $72,709, home value $412,000, $330/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seattle, WA 98188 90%2,464$76,438$456,400$323 pricier homes ($44K more)
Hialeah, FL 33014 89%1,264$77,338$424,200$327 older residents
Denver, CO 80214 89%1,753$75,575$559,100$387 pricier homes ($147K more)
Sacramento, CA 95825 89%2,602$64,602$440,200$292 pricier homes ($28K more) · more renters
Sacramento, CA 95841 89%2,597$61,054$424,500$289 Very close on everything we compare
Dallas, TX 75220 88%1,541$69,843$500,200$388 pricier homes ($88K more)
Garfield, NJ 07026 87%188$79,700$475,500$381 pricier homes ($64K more) · older residents · older homes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314 87%1,251$66,100$383,400$347 cheaper homes ($29K less) · newer homes
Phoenix, AZ 85021 87%2,279$59,768$470,400$321 pricier homes ($58K more)
Beaverton, OR 97005 87%2,518$78,239$504,300$299 pricier homes ($92K more)
Lakewood, WA 98499 87%2,478$67,292$408,500$327 Very close on everything we compare
Plainfield, NJ 07060 86%212$78,602$393,800$348 larger · older homes
Elizabeth, NJ 07208 86%202$65,511$459,200$321 pricier homes ($47K more) · older residents
Salt Lake City, UT 84115 86%2,077$65,548$434,700$306 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Mesa, AZ 85201 86%2,271$67,294$328,800$252 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger · newer homes
Bridgeport, CT 06605 85%141$56,179$335,500$277 cheaper homes ($77K less) · older homes
Long Branch, NJ 07740 85%213$79,870$578,800$453 pricier homes ($167K more)
Pompano Beach, FL 33060 85%1,238$64,819$377,500$330 cheaper homes ($35K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Miami, FL 33181 85%1,261$63,275$352,500$295 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85015 85%2,281$54,874$345,000$247 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Kent, WA 98032 85%2,465$82,636$520,800$327 pricier homes ($109K more) · newer homes
Hollywood, FL 33020 84%1,253$56,473$353,300$324 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger · older residents
Concord, CA 94520 84%2,650$82,479$601,000$468 pricier homes ($189K more)
Everett, WA 98201 84%2,453$74,554$499,800$384 pricier homes ($88K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
Fairview, NJ 07022 83%187$63,606$511,400$389 pricier homes ($99K more) · smaller · 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.