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 07106

Newark: median income $53,440, home value $355,400, $243/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Woonsocket, RI 02895 91%165$61,059$311,000$228 cheaper homes ($44K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Washington, DC 20019 89%192$58,296$456,800$252 pricier homes ($101K more) · larger
Washington, DC 20020 87%195$54,032$456,000$244 pricier homes ($101K more)
Bridgeport, CT 06604 86%62$50,026$267,100$210 cheaper homes ($88K less)
Bridgeport, CT 06605 86%61$56,179$335,500$277 6 min shorter commute
Mount Vernon, NY 10550 85%24$60,701$494,300$300 pricier homes ($139K more)
Chicago, IL 60651 85%705$54,409$269,900$199 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger · older homes
Chicago, IL 60609 84%700$58,896$268,300$213 cheaper homes ($87K less) · larger · older homes
Washington, DC 20032 81%197$49,139$407,700$215 pricier homes ($52K more) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Chicago, IL 60639 81%705$61,089$309,900$241 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger · more homeowners
Yonkers, NY 10705 80%21$67,918$505,400$267 pricier homes ($150K more) · older residents
Fall River, MA 02720 78%174$62,196$398,000$253 pricier homes ($43K more) · 11 min shorter commute
Bridgeport, CT 06610 78%64$51,634$228,300$219 cheaper homes ($127K less) · smaller · older residents
Hollywood, FL 33020 78%1,073$56,473$353,300$324 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Fall River, MA 02721 77%173$52,841$406,000$228 pricier homes ($51K more) · older residents · 10 min shorter commute
Fall River, MA 02724 77%172$55,590$402,800$256 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller · 10 min shorter commute
Yonkers, NY 10701 77%24$64,776$370,400$306 larger · newer homes
Brooklyn, MD 21225 77%164$54,020$229,000$187 cheaper homes ($126K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Mattapan, MA 02126 76%194$65,709$542,700$400 pricier homes ($187K more)
Pawtucket, RI 02860 76%167$61,539$336,100$250 10 min shorter commute · more walkable
Phoenix, AZ 85015 76%2,128$54,874$345,000$247 10 min shorter commute · newer homes
Southbridge, MA 01550 75%146$66,287$294,800$215 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller · older residents
Lynn, MA 01902 75%208$67,046$478,000$348 pricier homes ($123K more) · 5 min shorter commute · more walkable
Providence, RI 02909 75%163$64,649$325,300$250 cheaper homes ($30K less) · 9 min shorter commute · more walkable
Philadelphia, PA 19111 75%65$61,138$253,700$218 cheaper homes ($102K less) · larger · more homeowners

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.