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 06607

Bridgeport: median income $50,000, home value $232,700, $191/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Indian Orchard, MA 01151 81%75$55,324$237,200$219 older residents · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Brooklyn, MD 21225 80%227$54,020$229,000$187 larger · newer homes
Springfield, MA 01108 79%70$50,661$250,900$181 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Fall River, MA 02723 77%111$47,633$357,800$244 pricier homes ($125K more) · larger · older residents
New Bedford, MA 02744 77%120$58,675$372,700$317 pricier homes ($140K more) · larger
Trenton, NJ 08611 77%106$56,788$160,500$181 cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger
Springfield, MA 01109 75%72$48,415$219,900$208 larger · 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Central Falls, RI 02863 75%104$49,285$352,100$193 pricier homes ($119K more) · larger · more renters
Fall River, MA 02724 73%109$55,590$402,800$256 pricier homes ($170K more) · larger · older residents
Providence, RI 02907 73%100$52,485$349,200$213 pricier homes ($117K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Paterson, NJ 07522 72%56$48,058$290,900$293 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger · more renters
Camden, NJ 08105 72%132$45,974$121,100$182 cheaper homes ($112K less) · larger · newer homes
Trenton, NJ 08618 72%107$50,390$227,000$186 larger · newer homes
Schenectady, NY 12308 71%120$63,434$211,900$159 larger
Portsmouth, VA 23702 71%347$48,835$208,000$184 larger · more single-family homes · newer homes
Detroit, MI 48208 71%518$36,194$176,400$195 cheaper homes ($56K less) · older residents
Saint Paul, MN 55130 71%1,036$54,130$236,000$170 larger · 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Woonsocket, RI 02895 70%102$61,059$311,000$228 pricier homes ($78K more) · larger · older residents
Troy, NY 12182 70%114$56,984$212,600$170 larger · older residents
Springfield, MA 01107 69%71$35,632$243,600$187 larger · 10 min shorter commute
Worcester, MA 01603 69%101$66,049$331,300$257 pricier homes ($99K more) · larger · older residents
Prospect Park, PA 19076 69%144$64,231$244,000$229 5 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Milwaukee, WI 53210 69%769$48,217$174,400$100 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger
Chicago, IL 60609 69%750$58,896$268,300$213 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · older residents
Chicago, IL 60623 69%753$51,878$237,200$151 larger · older residents

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.