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 06710

Waterbury: median income $37,191, home value $228,300, $154/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Detroit, MI 48208 88%519$36,194$176,400$195 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Chicago, IL 60624 79%756$34,030$230,700$136 larger · 5 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
New Orleans, LA 70113 79%1,244$39,333$305,800$141 pricier homes ($78K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Columbus, OH 43222 78%534$32,321$228,300$140 smaller · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Camden, NJ 08103 77%156$36,793$138,000$130 cheaper homes ($90K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Fall River, MA 02723 76%99$47,633$357,800$244 pricier homes ($130K more) · larger
Chicago, IL 60644 75%758$40,950$239,000$149 larger · 8 min longer commute
Rochester, NY 14608 74%258$40,646$187,000$97 cheaper homes ($41K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Springfield, MA 01107 73%44$35,632$243,600$187 younger residents · 11 min shorter commute
Cincinnati, OH 45229 73%625$32,263$285,900$133 pricier homes ($58K more) · 9 min shorter commute
Detroit, MI 48214 72%514$33,544$147,300$113 cheaper homes ($81K less) · larger · older residents
Milwaukee, WI 53210 72%768$48,217$174,400$100 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · younger residents
Springfield, MA 01108 71%44$50,661$250,900$181 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Allentown, PA 18102 71%143$43,085$163,400$147 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger · younger residents
Kansas City, MO 64109 71%1,144$41,943$275,000$124 pricier homes ($47K more) · 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Buffalo, NY 14207 70%314$39,753$133,600$103 cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger · younger residents
Rochester, NY 14613 70%260$37,778$120,600$84 cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger · younger residents
Louisville, KY 40203 70%711$30,794$197,300$145 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · younger residents
Chicago, IL 60621 70%753$31,905$153,500$94 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Fresno, CA 93701 70%2,495$32,768$246,400$172 more renters · newer homes
Spokane, WA 99201 70%2,192$41,171$312,600$207 pricier homes ($84K more) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Central Falls, RI 02863 69%88$49,285$352,100$193 pricier homes ($124K more) · larger · younger residents
Philadelphia, PA 19141 69%152$43,998$164,000$145 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger · more homeowners
Norfolk, VA 23523 69%370$35,533$224,600$153 younger residents · more single-family homes · newer homes
Syracuse, NY 13203 68%189$46,997$156,900$118 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger · 7 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.