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.

Reset

Towns most like Providence, RI 02906

Providence: median income $103,050, home value $638,600, $395/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Richmond, VA 23221 90%438$99,816$582,000$405 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Pittsburgh, PA 15217 87%454$95,668$455,100$281 cheaper homes ($184K less)
Evanston, IL 60201 87%836$90,545$590,700$370 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger · newer homes
New Orleans, LA 70115 86%1,326$90,182$643,100$342 Very close on everything we compare
Atlanta, GA 30306 83%898$123,077$799,800$389 pricier homes ($161K more) · newer homes
Denver, CO 80211 80%1,753$121,439$807,100$442 pricier homes ($169K more) · newer homes
Baltimore, MD 21210 79%324$112,428$547,300$256 cheaper homes ($91K less) · smaller · newer homes
Saint Louis, MO 63105 79%1,020$116,439$766,300$345 pricier homes ($128K more) · 8 min shorter commute · newer homes
Ardmore, PA 19003 78%240$119,861$448,500$329 cheaper homes ($190K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Oak Park, IL 60302 78%842$100,680$474,200$287 cheaper homes ($164K less) · older residents · 8 min longer commute
Portland, OR 97214 78%2,530$87,131$771,800$338 pricier homes ($133K more) · more renters
West Hartford, CT 06119 77%69$99,688$378,400$281 cheaper homes ($260K less) · smaller
Portland, OR 97202 77%2,530$104,971$700,800$340 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Tacoma, WA 98403 77%2,496$88,056$829,800$391 pricier homes ($191K more) · smaller
Northampton, MA 01060 76%72$76,848$453,400$344 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($185K less) · smaller
Portland, ME 04102 76%138$82,751$503,500$388 cheaper homes ($135K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Denver, CO 80220 76%1,748$106,054$805,400$382 pricier homes ($167K more) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Waltham, MA 02453 75%38$115,366$705,100$473 pricier homes ($67K more) · newer homes
Watertown, MA 02472 75%39$126,336$784,600$507 pricier homes ($146K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Philadelphia, PA 19118 74%233$109,649$718,300$399 pricier homes ($80K more) · smaller · older residents
Norfolk, VA 23507 74%432$104,295$555,200$223 cheaper homes ($83K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Medford, MA 02155 73%43$129,700$755,500$496 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($117K more) · larger
Montclair, NJ 07042 73%162$122,847$821,700$590 pricier homes ($183K more) · 9 min longer commute
Highland Park, NJ 08904 73%183$104,694$471,700$342 cheaper homes ($167K less) · smaller · newer homes
Cincinnati, OH 45209 73%709$93,420$400,700$289 cheaper homes ($238K less) · smaller · more renters

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.