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 06106

Hartford: median income $46,304, home value $214,200, $187/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Worcester, MA 01610 86%57$51,472$308,700$187 pricier homes ($95K more) · younger residents
Atlantic City, NJ 08401 86%188$41,126$207,400$211 older residents · newer homes
Paterson, NJ 07522 85%96$48,058$290,900$293 pricier homes ($77K more) · smaller
Allentown, PA 18102 85%165$43,085$163,400$147 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Central Falls, RI 02863 83%68$49,285$352,100$193 pricier homes ($138K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Springfield, MA 01107 81%26$35,632$243,600$187 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Providence, RI 02907 81%65$52,485$349,200$213 pricier homes ($135K more) · more homeowners
Wilmington, DE 19801 81%204$52,810$199,900$143 smaller · newer homes
Trenton, NJ 08611 79%150$56,788$160,500$181 cheaper homes ($54K less) · 7 min longer commute · more homeowners
Albany, NY 12206 79%84$41,548$162,300$112 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller
Fall River, MA 02723 78%81$47,633$357,800$244 pricier homes ($144K more) · smaller
New Bedford, MA 02746 78%91$41,917$358,700$222 pricier homes ($145K more) · smaller
Camden, NJ 08105 77%176$45,974$121,100$182 cheaper homes ($93K less) · more homeowners
Trenton, NJ 08618 77%151$50,390$227,000$186 more homeowners
Albany, NY 12202 77%82$52,868$166,000$118 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller
Springfield, MA 01108 76%24$50,661$250,900$181 pricier homes ($37K more) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Milwaukee, WI 53212 76%780$47,298$216,300$145 Very close on everything we compare
New Orleans, LA 70113 75%1,266$39,333$305,800$141 pricier homes ($92K more) · smaller · older residents
Wilmington, DE 19802 74%203$53,812$194,600$169 more homeowners
Milwaukee, WI 53204 74%781$45,934$124,300$105 cheaper homes ($90K less)
Milwaukee, WI 53208 74%783$52,690$204,500$125 more homeowners
Chicago, IL 60637 74%767$43,609$257,300$187 pricier homes ($43K more) · 9 min longer commute
Holyoke, MA 01040 73%31$53,605$274,100$183 pricier homes ($60K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Lawrence, MA 01841 73%103$56,971$403,400$305 pricier homes ($189K more)
Rochester, NY 14608 73%269$40,646$187,000$97 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller

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.