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 Hartford, CT 06105

Hartford: median income $41,937, home value $402,300, $157/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Buffalo, NY 14201 87%325$40,512$337,600$194 cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller
New Orleans, LA 70113 87%1,267$39,333$305,800$141 cheaper homes ($97K less) · smaller
Spokane, WA 99201 79%2,202$41,171$312,600$207 cheaper homes ($90K less) · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60637 76%767$43,609$257,300$187 cheaper homes ($145K less) · larger · younger residents
Cincinnati, OH 45229 75%645$32,263$285,900$133 cheaper homes ($116K less) · more single-family homes
Central Falls, RI 02863 74%68$49,285$352,100$193 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Buffalo, NY 14209 74%325$50,046$429,400$157 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Cleveland, OH 44106 74%460$43,170$255,700$144 cheaper homes ($147K less) · younger residents
Worcester, MA 01610 73%56$51,472$308,700$187 cheaper homes ($94K less) · larger · younger residents
Albany, NY 12210 73%82$55,843$228,100$142 cheaper homes ($174K less) · smaller
Columbus, OH 43203 73%550$47,572$319,300$169 cheaper homes ($83K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Minneapolis, MN 55404 73%1,053$41,940$291,600$223 cheaper homes ($111K less) · larger · younger residents
Worcester, MA 01605 72%59$54,642$392,100$270 larger
Fall River, MA 02723 72%81$47,633$357,800$244 cheaper homes ($45K less) · more homeowners
New Bedford, MA 02746 72%92$41,917$358,700$222 cheaper homes ($44K less) · younger residents
Pittsburgh, PA 15219 71%390$34,897$214,800$211 cheaper homes ($188K less) · smaller · newer homes
Wilmington, DE 19801 71%205$52,810$199,900$143 cheaper homes ($202K less) · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60653 71%767$40,666$361,000$197 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Providence, RI 02907 70%66$52,485$349,200$213 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger · more homeowners
Baltimore, MD 21201 70%268$45,640$275,300$178 cheaper homes ($127K less) · more walkable · newer homes
Detroit, MI 48207 70%531$47,831$211,600$123 cheaper homes ($191K less) · newer homes
Fall River, MA 02721 69%80$52,841$406,000$228 more homeowners
Newark, NJ 07104 68%103$53,978$388,800$219 larger · 8 min longer commute · newer homes
Schenectady, NY 12305 68%96$53,326$217,500$213 cheaper homes ($185K less) · smaller
Philadelphia, PA 19121 68%179$38,516$266,700$156 cheaper homes ($136K less) · 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.