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 Bristol, CT 06010

Bristol: median income $79,314, home value $277,900, $229/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Newark, DE 19713 96%202$76,493$292,600$215 smaller
New Castle, DE 19720 95%203$75,403$265,000$203 Very close on everything we compare
Virginia Beach, VA 23452 95%375$79,085$346,600$250 pricier homes ($69K more)
Saint Paul, MN 55119 95%1,031$81,865$277,500$184 Very close on everything we compare
Pottstown, PA 19464 94%171$79,787$264,400$197 Very close on everything we compare
Aurora, IL 60506 94%794$79,517$253,700$211 Very close on everything we compare
Westfield, MA 01085 93%32$88,728$326,100$240 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller
Minneapolis, MN 55432 93%1,044$79,520$301,800$187 smaller
Allentown, PA 18103 92%152$72,895$272,700$193 more walkable
Joliet, IL 60435 92%784$76,369$235,500$184 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Whitehall, PA 18052 91%151$75,665$262,900$201 smaller
Parkville, MD 21234 91%247$83,517$288,100$183 Very close on everything we compare
Henrico, VA 23228 91%376$70,260$283,500$235 smaller · more renters
Norfolk, VA 23518 91%373$77,594$300,700$238 smaller
Hampton, VA 23669 91%369$71,222$260,400$187 smaller
Addison, IL 60101 91%776$90,800$338,800$233 pricier homes ($61K more) · smaller
Glendale Heights, IL 60139 91%779$86,372$261,800$220 smaller
Kansas City, MO 64118 91%1,148$74,740$225,300$177 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Blackwood, NJ 08012 90%171$95,451$289,700$225 Very close on everything we compare
Lebanon, PA 17042 90%203$74,831$237,300$186 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller
Reading, PA 19607 90%186$81,346$228,800$183 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
Glen Burnie, MD 21061 90%261$87,751$339,100$236 pricier homes ($61K more)
Halethorpe, MD 21227 90%261$85,986$289,400$209 smaller
Grand Rapids, MI 49508 90%653$70,120$281,600$187 newer homes
Elgin, IL 60120 90%788$82,449$242,300$205 cheaper homes ($36K 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.