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 Middletown, CT 06457

Middletown: median income $79,463, home value $295,300, $235/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Henrico, VA 23228 93%379$70,260$283,500$235 Very close on everything we compare
Concord, NH 03301 92%129$86,840$371,300$268 pricier homes ($76K more)
Palatine, IL 60074 92%790$84,089$315,500$233 Very close on everything we compare
Metairie, LA 70001 92%1,261$67,923$339,400$197 pricier homes ($44K more)
Newport News, VA 23602 91%370$79,475$288,200$193 newer homes
Manchester, NH 03104 90%118$88,897$392,200$280 pricier homes ($97K more) · older homes
Indianapolis, IN 46260 90%716$72,504$288,900$159 Very close on everything we compare
Kenosha, WI 53144 90%782$76,507$259,600$214 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller
North Richland Hills, TX 76180 90%1,473$81,503$328,000$198 pricier homes ($33K more) · newer homes
Keene, NH 03431 89%99$79,541$255,500$228 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Bangor, ME 04401 89%298$66,932$239,900$198 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 89%1,093$65,342$321,200$251 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Ypsilanti, MI 48197 89%566$73,737$294,500$186 younger residents
Utica, MI 48317 89%537$72,917$265,300$186 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
New Orleans, LA 70123 89%1,265$83,585$348,100$187 pricier homes ($53K more) · smaller
Rensselaer, NY 12144 88%92$90,738$249,700$213 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller
Buffalo, NY 14228 88%329$74,871$274,600$225 smaller · younger residents
Lancaster, PA 17602 88%217$75,862$271,700$193 Very close on everything we compare
Lancaster, PA 17603 88%221$77,084$262,400$196 cheaper homes ($33K less) · older homes
Jacksonville, FL 32257 88%930$75,780$339,300$200 pricier homes ($44K more) · newer homes
Knoxville, TN 37923 88%726$73,699$333,000$213 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller · newer homes
Burnsville, MN 55337 88%1,059$84,110$349,100$180 pricier homes ($54K more)
Hoffman Estates, IL 60169 88%795$90,774$306,300$241 more homeowners
Bedford, TX 76021 88%1,468$87,097$374,400$206 pricier homes ($79K more) · newer homes
Leominster, MA 01453 87%82$84,296$381,300$280 pricier homes ($86K more)

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.