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 Providence, RI 02904

Providence: median income $67,003, home value $339,900, $249/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pompano Beach, FL 33060 94%1,187$64,819$377,500$330 pricier homes ($38K more)
Miami, FL 33174 92%1,222$59,185$403,600$332 pricier homes ($64K more)
West Palm Beach, FL 33407 92%1,153$59,993$342,000$319 Very close on everything we compare
Norfolk, VA 23503 90%425$67,649$293,100$223 cheaper homes ($47K less) · less walkable
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 90%1,191$77,321$337,700$281 Very close on everything we compare
Mesa, AZ 85202 90%2,266$71,619$370,900$255 pricier homes ($31K more) · younger residents
Worcester, MA 01604 89%33$73,505$352,500$271 older homes
Trenton, NJ 08638 89%206$66,875$245,100$257 cheaper homes ($95K less)
West Palm Beach, FL 33404 89%1,150$65,063$344,200$325 Very close on everything we compare
Boynton Beach, FL 33435 89%1,167$67,979$356,200$308 more homeowners
Deerfield Beach, FL 33441 89%1,181$58,594$425,000$337 pricier homes ($85K more)
Sarasota, FL 34237 89%1,182$66,762$264,000$226 cheaper homes ($76K less) · smaller
Aurora, CO 80012 89%1,743$73,000$429,500$216 pricier homes ($90K more) · larger
Gresham, OR 97030 89%2,517$69,239$435,700$254 pricier homes ($96K more)
Maple Shade, NJ 08052 88%228$79,087$250,600$233 cheaper homes ($89K less) · smaller
Claymont, DE 19703 88%254$76,939$284,700$223 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33351 88%1,194$77,363$371,400$256 pricier homes ($32K more) · newer homes
Houston, TX 77080 88%1,577$62,134$345,000$199 younger residents
Colorado Springs, CO 80910 88%1,757$61,969$320,300$198 younger residents
Portland, OR 97233 88%2,521$60,198$414,600$267 pricier homes ($75K more)
West Haven, CT 06516 87%89$74,382$291,700$246 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Bridgeport, CT 06606 87%102$73,372$289,000$271 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger · older homes
Bristol, PA 19007 87%215$65,511$290,300$256 cheaper homes ($50K less) · older homes
Virginia Beach, VA 23462 87%428$69,040$286,500$213 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger · newer homes
Altamonte Springs, FL 32714 87%1,069$70,955$325,300$204 less walkable · 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.