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 Clifton, NJ 07011

Clifton: median income $74,194, home value $428,900, $426/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lowell, MA 01851 88%189$92,401$467,000$324 pricier homes ($38K more)
Lowell, MA 01850 86%191$69,780$390,800$313 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller · younger residents
Lynn, MA 01902 86%198$67,046$478,000$348 pricier homes ($49K more)
Lowell, MA 01852 85%190$80,906$424,300$328 newer homes
Everett, WA 98201 83%2,381$74,554$499,800$384 pricier homes ($71K more) · newer homes
Worcester, MA 01603 82%152$66,049$331,300$257 cheaper homes ($98K less) · smaller · younger residents
Providence, RI 02908 82%155$73,081$324,100$240 cheaper homes ($105K less) · younger residents
Haverhill, MA 01830 81%206$78,571$467,000$311 pricier homes ($38K more) · newer homes
Providence, RI 02905 81%156$62,908$371,900$258 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller
Oakland, CA 94601 81%2,546$72,359$710,000$458 pricier homes ($281K more)
Brockton, MA 02301 80%181$74,214$449,400$321 larger · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Fall River, MA 02720 80%166$62,196$398,000$253 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Pawtucket, RI 02860 80%158$61,539$336,100$250 cheaper homes ($93K less)
Lynn, MA 01905 79%197$84,333$499,200$377 pricier homes ($70K more) · younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Worcester, MA 01604 78%155$73,505$352,500$271 cheaper homes ($76K less) · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60608 78%704$73,366$358,600$300 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger · younger residents
Lawrence, MA 01843 77%198$67,585$429,100$334 younger residents · more renters · newer homes
New Bedford, MA 02740 77%174$55,237$345,800$259 cheaper homes ($83K less)
Fitchburg, MA 01420 76%168$72,780$335,300$246 cheaper homes ($94K less) · less walkable · newer homes
Salem, MA 01970 76%202$85,041$542,900$418 pricier homes ($114K more)
Everett, MA 02149 76%192$85,218$610,000$375 pricier homes ($181K more) · younger residents · 9 min longer commute
Yonkers, NY 10703 76%14$89,773$527,600$341 pricier homes ($99K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Hempstead, NY 11550 76%30$92,677$465,100$460 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Tacoma, WA 98405 76%2,400$75,946$464,700$300 pricier homes ($36K more) · more single-family homes
Dorchester Center, MA 02124 75%186$81,923$650,700$418 pricier homes ($222K more) · 9 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes

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.