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 Newark, NJ 07104

Newark: median income $53,978, home value $388,800, $219/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Washington, DC 20032 92%201$49,139$407,700$215 Very close on everything we compare
Washington, DC 20020 91%199$54,032$456,000$244 pricier homes ($67K more) · 7 min longer commute
Bridgeport, CT 06605 89%57$56,179$335,500$277 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller
Yonkers, NY 10701 89%20$64,776$370,400$306 Very close on everything we compare
Washington, DC 20019 88%196$58,296$456,800$252 pricier homes ($68K more) · more homeowners
Woonsocket, RI 02895 87%161$61,059$311,000$228 cheaper homes ($78K less) · older homes
Bridgeport, CT 06604 87%58$50,026$267,100$210 cheaper homes ($122K less) · smaller · older homes
Mount Vernon, NY 10550 87%20$60,701$494,300$300 pricier homes ($106K more)
Phoenix, AZ 85015 86%2,131$54,874$345,000$247 cheaper homes ($44K less) · 5 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Worcester, MA 01605 83%162$54,642$392,100$270 smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Miami, FL 33125 83%1,092$44,979$423,100$324 pricier homes ($34K more) · older residents
Hollywood, FL 33020 82%1,075$56,473$353,300$324 cheaper homes ($36K less) · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60653 82%701$40,666$361,000$197 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Dallas, TX 75243 82%1,355$53,618$386,100$172 newer homes
Las Vegas, NV 89102 80%2,223$49,843$376,300$247 8 min shorter commute · newer homes
Fall River, MA 02720 79%171$62,196$398,000$253 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Chicago, IL 60612 79%705$60,922$364,600$292 Very close on everything we compare
Las Vegas, NV 89119 79%2,220$46,960$328,100$219 cheaper homes ($61K less) · 8 min shorter commute · newer homes
Sacramento, CA 95825 79%2,486$64,602$440,200$292 pricier homes ($51K more) · 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Sacramento, CA 95841 78%2,481$61,054$424,500$289 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Fall River, MA 02721 77%169$52,841$406,000$228 smaller · 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Fall River, MA 02724 77%168$55,590$402,800$256 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Pawtucket, RI 02860 77%163$61,539$336,100$250 cheaper homes ($53K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Miami, FL 33181 77%1,083$63,275$352,500$295 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller
Lowell, MA 01854 76%196$72,709$412,000$330 smaller

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.