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 Waterbury, CT 06702

Waterbury: median income $14,474, home value $286,100, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chattanooga, TN 37402 42%802$24,214$268,800$332 younger residents · 9 min shorter commute · newer homes
El Paso, TX 79901 38%1,959$14,872$91,400$70 cheaper homes ($195K less) · larger · younger residents
San Bernardino, CA 92401 34%2,441$26,596$353,700$532 pricier homes ($68K more) · smaller · younger residents
Saint Louis, MO 63106 30%928$20,679$214,400$88 cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger · younger residents
Charleston, WV 25301 29%506$25,417$196,900$145 cheaper homes ($89K less) · 17 min shorter commute · less walkable
Buffalo, NY 14204 27%312$28,182$152,400$150 cheaper homes ($134K less) · larger · younger residents
New Orleans, LA 70112 26%1,243$19,395$391,900$408 pricier homes ($106K more) · younger residents · 14 min shorter commute
Cincinnati, OH 45203 25%628$21,973$356,900$185 pricier homes ($71K more) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Springfield, MA 01103 23%44$21,355$185,700$172 cheaper homes ($100K less) · younger residents · 14 min shorter commute
Jacksonville, FL 32202 23%912$34,825$268,800$159 larger · younger residents · 9 min shorter commute
Reno, NV 89501 22%2,430$33,963$414,000$352 pricier homes ($128K more) · more homeowners · newer homes
Springfield, MA 01105 20%44$24,036$217,800$136 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger · younger residents
Louisville, KY 40202 19%710$35,584$257,300$258 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · younger residents
Stockton, CA 95202 18%2,541$31,020$377,400$168 pricier homes ($91K more) · larger · younger residents
Detroit, MI 48201 17%518$24,749$412,600$323 pricier homes ($127K more) · larger · younger residents
Minneapolis, MN 55454 17%1,041$23,100$186,600$127 cheaper homes ($100K less) · larger · younger residents
Knoxville, TN 37915 16%700$26,379$210,800$322 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger · younger residents
Newark, NJ 07114 15%84$36,019$373,200$226 pricier homes ($87K more) · larger · younger residents
Fresno, CA 93701 15%2,496$32,768$246,400$172 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger · younger residents
Fresno, CA 93721 14%2,496$40,033$243,800$157 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Bronx, NY 10454 13%69$24,086$792,000$422 pricier homes ($506K more) · larger · younger residents
Anniston, AL 36205 13%881$24,734$251,600— cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller · younger residents
Toledo, OH 43604 13%541$20,734$64,800$175 cheaper homes ($221K less) · larger · younger residents
Shreveport, LA 71101 13%1,298$19,351$84,900$50 cheaper homes ($201K less) · larger · younger residents
San Antonio, TX 78208 13%1,648$26,595$146,600$187 cheaper homes ($140K less) · younger residents · 10 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.