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.

Reset

Towns most like Newark, NJ 07102

Newark: median income $38,864, home value $431,500, $294/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Miami, FL 33136 72%1,089$44,843$416,900$328 9 min shorter commute · newer homes
Los Angeles, CA 90058 72%2,436$37,557$464,200— pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Bronx, NY 10474 67%16$41,586$333,300$429 cheaper homes ($98K less) · 7 min longer commute · older homes
Chicago, IL 60653 67%701$40,666$361,000$197 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger · more homeowners
New York, NY 10035 66%13$45,121$665,800$540 pricier homes ($234K more) · larger · less walkable
Bronx, NY 10455 66%15$36,115$320,500$472 cheaper homes ($111K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Baltimore, MD 21201 66%163$45,640$275,300$178 cheaper homes ($156K less) · 11 min shorter commute
Bronx, NY 10451 65%15$38,770$288,500$436 cheaper homes ($143K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Washington, DC 20032 65%199$49,139$407,700$215 larger · more homeowners · less walkable
Roxbury, MA 02119 64%194$48,488$688,600$459 pricier homes ($257K more) · larger · more homeowners
Dorchester, MA 02121 64%194$43,136$590,200$269 pricier homes ($159K more) · larger · more homeowners
Minneapolis, MN 55404 64%1,007$41,940$291,600$223 cheaper homes ($140K less) · larger · 13 min shorter commute
Sacramento, CA 95814 64%2,491$58,284$633,200$355 pricier homes ($202K more) · 9 min shorter commute
Miami, FL 33135 63%1,091$40,567$418,500$381 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Los Angeles, CA 90007 63%2,440$35,378$861,700$341 pricier homes ($430K more) · larger · younger residents
Los Angeles, CA 90013 63%2,437$36,948$800,500$537 pricier homes ($369K more) · older residents · older homes
Los Angeles, CA 90014 63%2,437$31,000$615,700$541 pricier homes ($184K more) · older homes
Los Angeles, CA 90057 61%2,438$44,823$647,700$683 pricier homes ($216K more) · larger
Bronx, NY 10456 60%16$34,954$361,200$338 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Pittsburgh, PA 15219 60%305$34,897$214,800$211 cheaper homes ($217K less) · 11 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Bronx, NY 10459 59%16$38,006$582,000$400 pricier homes ($151K more) · larger · newer homes
Detroit, MI 48201 59%473$24,749$412,600$323 14 min shorter commute
Bronx, NY 10457 58%17$42,683$486,000$424 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Los Angeles, CA 90005 58%2,439$49,419$975,200$551 pricier homes ($544K more) · larger
Hartford, CT 06105 57%105$41,937$402,300$157 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · 11 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.