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 Bridgeport, CT 06604

Bridgeport: median income $50,026, home value $267,100, $210/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Newark, NJ 07112 91%62$58,200$336,500$193 pricier homes ($69K more)
East Orange, NJ 07017 87%60$58,853$374,800$252 pricier homes ($108K more)
Newark, NJ 07104 87%58$53,978$388,800$219 pricier homes ($122K more) · larger · newer homes
Philadelphia, PA 19144 87%130$53,161$238,700$161 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · older homes
East Orange, NJ 07018 86%61$62,564$353,800$271 pricier homes ($87K more)
Orange, NJ 07050 86%61$52,563$364,500$306 pricier homes ($97K more)
Newark, NJ 07106 86%62$53,440$355,400$243 pricier homes ($88K more)
Chicago, IL 60637 86%746$43,609$257,300$187 larger · younger residents
Woonsocket, RI 02895 85%103$61,059$311,000$228 pricier homes ($44K more)
Newark, NJ 07107 83%59$51,242$379,500$262 pricier homes ($112K more)
Irvington, NJ 07111 83%62$61,609$335,600$287 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger
Chicago, IL 60609 83%748$58,896$268,300$213 larger · older homes
Philadelphia, PA 19131 81%135$48,393$178,500$137 cheaper homes ($89K less)
Pawtucket, RI 02860 80%105$61,539$336,100$250 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Trenton, NJ 08611 80%105$56,788$160,500$181 cheaper homes ($107K less)
Philadelphia, PA 19111 80%125$61,138$253,700$218 larger · more homeowners
Washington, DC 20019 80%253$58,296$456,800$252 pricier homes ($190K more) · larger
Upper Darby, PA 19082 79%137$57,108$169,900$172 cheaper homes ($97K less) · more homeowners
Philadelphia, PA 19136 79%124$56,687$226,100$198 cheaper homes ($41K less) · more homeowners
Chicago, IL 60623 79%751$51,878$237,200$151 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · older homes
Chicago, IL 60653 79%746$40,666$361,000$197 pricier homes ($94K more) · newer homes
Fall River, MA 02721 78%112$52,841$406,000$228 pricier homes ($139K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Providence, RI 02909 78%101$64,649$325,300$250 pricier homes ($58K more) · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Norristown, PA 19401 78%133$69,908$234,000$201 cheaper homes ($33K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Wilmington, DE 19801 78%159$52,810$199,900$143 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter 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.