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 New Bedford, MA 02746

New Bedford: median income $41,917, home value $358,700, $222/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Central Falls, RI 02863 93%29$49,285$352,100$193 Very close on everything we compare
Paterson, NJ 07524 92%175$49,103$377,500$311 Very close on everything we compare
Paterson, NJ 07522 90%176$48,058$290,900$293 cheaper homes ($68K less)
New Haven, CT 06519 83%107$49,619$316,700$181 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Bridgeport, CT 06608 83%121$45,754$235,800$175 cheaper homes ($123K less) · newer homes
Hartford, CT 06106 78%91$46,304$214,200$187 cheaper homes ($145K less) · larger
Passaic, NJ 07055 75%175$55,371$429,900$337 pricier homes ($71K more) · larger
Hartford, CT 06105 72%92$41,937$402,300$157 pricier homes ($44K more) · older residents
Newark, NJ 07107 72%180$51,242$379,500$262 larger · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Providence, RI 02907 71%27$52,485$349,200$213 larger · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Paterson, NJ 07501 71%176$44,300$333,800$248 larger · 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60624 70%864$34,030$230,700$136 cheaper homes ($128K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Orange, NJ 07050 68%182$52,563$364,500$306 larger · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Newark, NJ 07114 68%182$36,019$373,200$226 newer homes
New Britain, CT 06051 67%95$51,022$211,500$177 cheaper homes ($147K less) · larger · more homeowners
Hartford, CT 06114 67%90$52,110$232,800$158 cheaper homes ($126K less) · larger · more homeowners
Bridgeport, CT 06607 67%120$50,000$232,700$191 cheaper homes ($126K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Waterbury, CT 06710 67%109$37,191$228,300$154 cheaper homes ($130K less) · smaller · older residents
Elizabeth, NJ 07201 67%183$60,080$467,500$296 pricier homes ($109K more) · larger · older residents
Los Angeles, CA 90058 67%2,601$37,557$464,200— pricier homes ($106K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Paterson, NJ 07503 66%176$60,443$350,900$320 newer homes
New Orleans, LA 70113 66%1,339$39,333$305,800$141 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller · older residents
Stockton, CA 95202 66%2,647$31,020$377,400$168 smaller · 12 min longer commute
Allentown, PA 18102 65%247$43,085$163,400$147 cheaper homes ($195K less) · larger · more homeowners
Buffalo, NY 14201 64%415$40,512$337,600$194 8 min shorter commute

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.