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 Passaic, NJ 07055

Passaic: median income $55,371, home value $429,900, $337/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lawrence, MA 01841 96%199$56,971$403,400$305 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Lynn, MA 01902 83%199$67,046$478,000$348 pricier homes ($48K more) · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Providence, RI 02909 83%154$64,649$325,300$250 cheaper homes ($105K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Lawrence, MA 01843 81%198$67,585$429,100$334 smaller · newer homes
New Bedford, MA 02744 81%175$58,675$372,700$317 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller
Chelsea, MA 02150 80%192$72,179$493,500$400 pricier homes ($64K more) · smaller · 8 min longer commute
Fall River, MA 02724 80%164$55,590$402,800$256 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · older residents
Providence, RI 02907 80%154$52,485$349,200$213 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Los Angeles, CA 90033 80%2,437$59,652$707,200$396 pricier homes ($277K more) · smaller · newer homes
Fall River, MA 02723 79%166$47,633$357,800$244 cheaper homes ($72K less) · smaller · older residents
New Bedford, MA 02740 79%174$55,237$345,800$259 cheaper homes ($84K less) · smaller · older residents
Pawtucket, RI 02860 79%158$61,539$336,100$250 cheaper homes ($94K less) · more homeowners
Central Falls, RI 02863 79%159$49,285$352,100$193 cheaper homes ($78K less) · smaller
Fall River, MA 02721 78%165$52,841$406,000$228 smaller · older residents
Worcester, MA 01610 77%154$51,472$308,700$187 cheaper homes ($121K less) · smaller · younger residents
Fall River, MA 02720 76%166$62,196$398,000$253 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller · older residents
Worcester, MA 01605 75%156$54,642$392,100$270 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller · newer homes
New Bedford, MA 02746 75%175$41,917$358,700$222 cheaper homes ($71K less) · smaller
Bridgeport, CT 06605 73%52$56,179$335,500$277 cheaper homes ($94K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Woonsocket, RI 02895 72%156$61,059$311,000$228 cheaper homes ($119K less) · smaller · more homeowners
New Haven, CT 06519 71%69$49,619$316,700$181 cheaper homes ($113K less) · smaller
Chicago, IL 60608 71%705$73,366$358,600$300 cheaper homes ($71K less) · more homeowners
Los Angeles, CA 90023 70%2,437$59,057$639,400$433 pricier homes ($210K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Dorchester, MA 02121 68%186$43,136$590,200$269 pricier homes ($160K more) · smaller · 11 min longer commute
Mount Vernon, NY 10550 68%16$60,701$494,300$300 pricier homes ($64K more) · smaller · 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.