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 Manchester, NH 03103

Manchester: median income $73,540, home value $342,200, $292/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Biddeford, ME 04005 94%61$74,647$396,000$308 pricier homes ($54K more) · smaller
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 91%153$63,652$301,700$229 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Taunton, MA 02780 90%75$74,471$413,900$326 pricier homes ($72K more) · 5 min longer commute
Fitchburg, MA 01420 88%32$72,780$335,300$246 more walkable
Dover, NJ 07801 88%213$84,517$392,400$366 pricier homes ($50K more)
Kingston, NY 12401 87%150$69,305$319,700$275 Very close on everything we compare
Henrico, VA 23228 87%493$70,260$283,500$235 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Southbridge, MA 01550 86%68$66,287$294,800$215 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller
Worcester, MA 01604 86%52$73,505$352,500$271 more walkable
Norwich, CT 06360 86%104$65,539$245,700$203 cheaper homes ($97K less)
West Haven, CT 06516 86%141$74,382$291,700$246 cheaper homes ($51K less) · more walkable
Lancaster, PA 17602 86%322$75,862$271,700$193 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Norfolk, VA 23503 86%487$67,649$293,100$223 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Haverhill, MA 01832 85%21$83,041$429,000$320 pricier homes ($87K more)
West Warwick, RI 02893 85%87$77,608$330,800$268 more walkable
Ansonia, CT 06401 85%140$86,178$285,800$236 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller
Meriden, CT 06451 84%121$71,255$239,800$217 cheaper homes ($102K less) · smaller
Middletown, CT 06457 84%115$79,463$295,300$235 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Bridgeport, CT 06606 84%151$73,372$289,000$271 cheaper homes ($53K less) · 6 min longer commute · more walkable
Cohoes, NY 12047 84%115$66,071$246,800$226 cheaper homes ($95K less) · smaller
Newburgh, NY 12550 84%166$85,697$340,900$244 7 min longer commute
West Springfield, MA 01089 83%84$69,371$321,500$249 Very close on everything we compare
Leominster, MA 01453 83%34$84,296$381,300$280 pricier homes ($39K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Webster, MA 01570 83%66$72,895$361,500$279 smaller · 7 min longer commute
Vernon Rockville, CT 06066 83%93$85,356$275,500$226 cheaper homes ($67K less)

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.