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 06114

Hartford: median income $52,110, home value $232,800, $158/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Springfield, MA 01108 90%25$50,661$250,900$181 Very close on everything we compare
Trenton, NJ 08611 88%150$56,788$160,500$181 cheaper homes ($72K less) · 6 min longer commute
Providence, RI 02907 87%65$52,485$349,200$213 pricier homes ($116K more)
Trenton, NJ 08618 87%151$50,390$227,000$186 newer homes
Wilmington, DE 19802 87%203$53,812$194,600$169 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Brooklyn, MD 21225 86%270$54,020$229,000$187 6 min longer commute
Holyoke, MA 01040 85%32$53,605$274,100$183 pricier homes ($41K more)
Milwaukee, WI 53208 84%784$52,690$204,500$125 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Chicago, IL 60623 84%774$51,878$237,200$151 larger · 8 min longer commute
Fall River, MA 02723 82%80$47,633$357,800$244 pricier homes ($125K more) · smaller
New Bedford, MA 02740 82%90$55,237$345,800$259 pricier homes ($113K more) · larger
Allentown, PA 18102 82%165$43,085$163,400$147 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger
Indian Orchard, MA 01151 81%30$55,324$237,200$219 smaller · more single-family homes
Central Falls, RI 02863 81%67$49,285$352,100$193 pricier homes ($119K more) · more renters
Woonsocket, RI 02895 81%62$61,059$311,000$228 pricier homes ($78K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Milwaukee, WI 53210 81%784$48,217$174,400$100 cheaper homes ($58K less) · more single-family homes
Fall River, MA 02721 80%79$52,841$406,000$228 pricier homes ($173K more) · older residents
Pawtucket, RI 02860 80%67$61,539$336,100$250 pricier homes ($103K more) · larger
Wilmington, DE 19801 80%204$52,810$199,900$143 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller · newer homes
Milwaukee, WI 53215 80%783$54,289$156,800$150 cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Fall River, MA 02724 79%78$55,590$402,800$256 pricier homes ($170K more)
Troy, NY 12182 79%88$56,984$212,600$170 smaller · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Buffalo, NY 14213 79%327$53,870$211,200$116 Very close on everything we compare
Milwaukee, WI 53225 79%788$56,545$188,400$163 cheaper homes ($44K less) · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60609 79%771$58,896$268,300$213 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · 9 min longer commute

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.