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 07108

Newark: median income $36,200, home value $399,400, $192/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Washington, DC 20032 85%198$49,139$407,700$215 Very close on everything we compare
Las Vegas, NV 89169 85%2,219$40,904$315,100$213 cheaper homes ($84K less) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Las Vegas, NV 89101 82%2,216$39,459$283,800$226 cheaper homes ($116K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77081 81%1,416$43,251$274,000$164 cheaper homes ($125K less) · larger · more renters
Chicago, IL 60653 78%700$40,666$361,000$197 cheaper homes ($38K less) · older residents
Orlando, FL 32839 77%939$47,313$280,700$191 cheaper homes ($119K less) · larger · newer homes
Philadelphia, PA 19121 76%72$38,516$266,700$156 cheaper homes ($133K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Las Vegas, NV 89119 76%2,219$46,960$328,100$219 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Tampa, FL 33613 74%991$44,032$272,700$233 cheaper homes ($127K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Dallas, TX 75237 74%1,369$44,318$247,500$201 cheaper homes ($152K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77036 74%1,419$45,716$235,300$128 cheaper homes ($164K less) · larger
Miami, FL 33136 71%1,088$44,843$416,900$328 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Bronx, NY 10456 70%17$34,954$361,200$338 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Minneapolis, MN 55404 70%1,006$41,940$291,600$223 cheaper homes ($108K less) · 11 min shorter commute
Washington, DC 20020 69%196$54,032$456,000$244 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Miami, FL 33135 69%1,090$40,567$418,500$381 older residents · older homes
Dorchester, MA 02121 68%195$43,136$590,200$269 pricier homes ($191K more) · older homes
Las Vegas, NV 89102 68%2,221$49,843$376,300$247 9 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Bridgeport, CT 06608 67%62$45,754$235,800$175 cheaper homes ($164K less) · smaller · older homes
Clarkston, GA 30021 67%729$52,278$275,400$182 cheaper homes ($124K less) · younger residents
Miami, FL 33125 67%1,089$44,979$423,100$324 larger · older residents
Dallas, TX 75243 67%1,353$53,618$386,100$172 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Bronx, NY 10459 66%18$38,006$582,000$400 pricier homes ($183K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Los Angeles, CA 90058 66%2,435$37,557$464,200— pricier homes ($65K more) · smaller · older homes
Central Falls, RI 02863 65%166$49,285$352,100$193 cheaper homes ($47K less) · older homes

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.