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 Middletown, RI 02842

Middletown: median income $101,948, home value $563,300, $392/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Reno, NV 89509 90%2,521$86,126$703,700$385 pricier homes ($140K more) · larger
South Portland, ME 04106 89%155$86,188$438,800$367 cheaper homes ($125K less) · larger
Englewood, CO 80113 88%1,761$96,590$709,100$408 pricier homes ($146K more)
Norwalk, CT 06851 87%114$111,341$587,400$407 larger · 9 min longer commute
Raritan, NJ 08869 87%187$107,672$456,900$350 cheaper homes ($106K less) · smaller
Tacoma, WA 98406 87%2,514$104,264$638,400$347 pricier homes ($75K more) · 6 min longer commute
Lake Hiawatha, NJ 07034 86%168$104,663$428,600$403 cheaper homes ($135K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Eatontown, NJ 07724 86%168$102,756$522,100$381 cheaper homes ($41K less) · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Metairie, LA 70005 86%1,319$89,194$430,200$249 cheaper homes ($133K less)
Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 86%1,766$89,627$609,800$331 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger · more walkable
Littleton, CO 80120 86%1,764$94,296$628,300$289 pricier homes ($65K more) · larger
Scottsdale, AZ 85257 86%2,274$86,962$506,300$368 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger · younger residents
Beaverton, OR 97008 86%2,553$96,116$578,100$338 larger · more walkable
Tacoma, WA 98466 86%2,516$101,778$602,400$351 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Norwalk, CT 06850 85%116$123,633$581,200$390 7 min longer commute
Maitland, FL 32751 85%1,056$95,387$453,700$291 cheaper homes ($110K less)
Boca Raton, FL 33486 85%1,163$105,540$664,100$530 pricier homes ($101K more) · more homeowners
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 85%2,542$92,517$707,500$467 pricier homes ($144K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Steilacoom, WA 98388 85%2,519$100,851$655,000$377 pricier homes ($92K more) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Amesbury, MA 01913 84%94$103,554$519,300$385 cheaper homes ($44K less) · 9 min longer commute
Charleston, SC 29407 84%770$85,367$451,800$356 cheaper homes ($112K less) · larger · younger residents
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233 84%956$89,185$452,700$340 cheaper homes ($111K less) · newer homes
Denver, CO 80215 84%1,767$85,190$650,100$298 pricier homes ($87K more)
Salt Lake City, UT 84117 84%2,094$87,813$648,900$314 pricier homes ($86K more)
Redlands, CA 92373 84%2,529$101,271$765,700$386 pricier homes ($202K more) · larger · younger 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.