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 New Haven, CT 06519

New Haven: median income $49,619, home value $316,700, $181/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Central Falls, RI 02863 91%90$49,285$352,100$193 pricier homes ($35K more)
Fall River, MA 02723 88%97$47,633$357,800$244 pricier homes ($41K more)
Worcester, MA 01610 87%88$51,472$308,700$187 larger · younger residents
Providence, RI 02907 87%85$52,485$349,200$213 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger
Fall River, MA 02724 85%95$55,590$402,800$256 pricier homes ($86K more)
Paterson, NJ 07522 84%69$48,058$290,900$293 cheaper homes ($26K less)
New Orleans, LA 70113 84%1,238$39,333$305,800$141 smaller · older residents
New Bedford, MA 02746 83%107$41,917$358,700$222 pricier homes ($42K more)
Wilmington, DE 19801 83%174$52,810$199,900$143 cheaper homes ($117K less)
Fall River, MA 02721 82%96$52,841$406,000$228 pricier homes ($89K more) · larger · older residents
Columbus, OH 43203 82%534$47,572$319,300$169 smaller · more single-family homes
Worcester, MA 01605 81%91$54,642$392,100$270 pricier homes ($75K more) · larger
Paterson, NJ 07503 81%69$60,443$350,900$320 pricier homes ($34K more) · newer homes
Springfield, MA 01107 79%59$35,632$243,600$187 cheaper homes ($73K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Paterson, NJ 07524 79%68$49,103$377,500$311 pricier homes ($61K more)
Buffalo, NY 14201 79%324$40,512$337,600$194 Very close on everything we compare
Lawrence, MA 01841 78%133$56,971$403,400$305 pricier homes ($87K more) · larger
New Bedford, MA 02744 78%107$58,675$372,700$317 pricier homes ($56K more)
Atlantic City, NJ 08401 78%155$41,126$207,400$211 cheaper homes ($109K less) · larger · newer homes
Spokane, WA 99201 78%2,206$41,171$312,600$207 older residents
Newark, NJ 07112 77%78$58,200$336,500$193 larger · 11 min longer commute
Fall River, MA 02720 76%97$62,196$398,000$253 pricier homes ($81K more) · larger · older residents
Pawtucket, RI 02860 76%89$61,539$336,100$250 larger · more homeowners
Woonsocket, RI 02895 76%87$61,059$311,000$228 larger · 7 min longer commute
Springfield, MA 01108 75%58$50,661$250,900$181 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger · more homeowners

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.