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 Dorchester, MA 02121

Dorchester: median income $43,136, home value $590,200, $269/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Orange, NJ 07050 79%195$52,563$364,500$306 cheaper homes ($226K less) · newer homes
Newark, NJ 07107 79%193$51,242$379,500$262 cheaper homes ($211K less) · newer homes
Bronx, NY 10458 79%176$40,800$520,800$250 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Bronx, NY 10472 79%177$41,039$666,600$366 pricier homes ($76K more) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Washington, DC 20020 78%390$54,032$456,000$244 cheaper homes ($134K less) · larger · newer homes
Washington, DC 20032 78%392$49,139$407,700$215 cheaper homes ($183K less) · newer homes
Newark, NJ 07106 74%196$53,440$355,400$243 cheaper homes ($235K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Bronx, NY 10467 74%175$49,330$415,200$368 cheaper homes ($175K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Mount Vernon, NY 10550 74%172$60,701$494,300$300 cheaper homes ($96K less) · older residents · more single-family homes
East Orange, NJ 07017 73%193$58,853$374,800$252 cheaper homes ($215K less) · newer homes
Miami, FL 33135 73%1,255$40,567$418,500$381 cheaper homes ($172K less) · older residents · newer homes
Central Falls, RI 02863 72%33$49,285$352,100$193 cheaper homes ($238K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Newark, NJ 07104 72%192$53,978$388,800$219 cheaper homes ($201K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
East Orange, NJ 07018 70%194$62,564$353,800$271 cheaper homes ($236K less) · newer homes
Newark, NJ 07112 70%196$58,200$336,500$193 cheaper homes ($254K less) · newer homes
Washington, DC 20019 70%387$58,296$456,800$252 cheaper homes ($133K less) · larger · more homeowners
Bronx, NY 10473 69%177$52,462$576,100$397 larger · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Bridgeport, CT 06605 68%135$56,179$335,500$277 cheaper homes ($255K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Passaic, NJ 07055 68%186$55,371$429,900$337 cheaper homes ($160K less) · larger · 11 min shorter commute
Newark, NJ 07108 68%195$36,200$399,400$192 cheaper homes ($191K less) · newer homes
Paterson, NJ 07524 68%185$49,103$377,500$311 cheaper homes ($213K less) · smaller · 12 min shorter commute
Bronx, NY 10474 68%178$41,586$333,300$429 cheaper homes ($257K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Far Rockaway, NY 11691 68%182$56,135$677,000$363 pricier homes ($87K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Bridgeport, CT 06604 67%134$50,026$267,100$210 cheaper homes ($323K less)
Newark, NJ 07105 67%193$59,847$471,600$273 cheaper homes ($119K less) · larger · 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.