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 07112

Newark: median income $58,200, home value $336,500, $193/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Woonsocket, RI 02895 91%165$61,059$311,000$228 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Bridgeport, CT 06604 91%62$50,026$267,100$210 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Bridgeport, CT 06605 89%61$56,179$335,500$277 Very close on everything we compare
Washington, DC 20032 88%197$49,139$407,700$215 pricier homes ($71K more)
Washington, DC 20020 87%195$54,032$456,000$244 pricier homes ($120K more) · larger
Mount Vernon, NY 10550 85%24$60,701$494,300$300 pricier homes ($158K more)
Washington, DC 20019 85%192$58,296$456,800$252 pricier homes ($120K more) · larger · more homeowners
Yonkers, NY 10701 83%24$64,776$370,400$306 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Fall River, MA 02720 81%174$62,196$398,000$253 pricier homes ($62K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Bladensburg, MD 20710 81%189$63,810$337,800$233 smaller · newer homes
Fall River, MA 02724 80%172$55,590$402,800$256 pricier homes ($66K more) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Phoenix, AZ 85015 80%2,129$54,874$345,000$247 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Fall River, MA 02721 79%173$52,841$406,000$228 pricier homes ($70K more) · 7 min shorter commute · older homes
Central Falls, RI 02863 79%167$49,285$352,100$193 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Chicago, IL 60609 79%701$58,896$268,300$213 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger · more homeowners
Worcester, MA 01605 78%166$54,642$392,100$270 pricier homes ($56K more) · 9 min shorter commute
Pawtucket, RI 02860 78%167$61,539$336,100$250 larger · 8 min shorter commute · older homes
New Haven, CT 06519 77%78$49,619$316,700$181 smaller · 11 min shorter commute
Yonkers, NY 10705 77%22$67,918$505,400$267 pricier homes ($169K more) · 6 min longer commute
Norristown, PA 19401 77%71$69,908$234,000$201 cheaper homes ($103K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Providence, RI 02909 76%163$64,649$325,300$250 larger · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Bridgeport, CT 06608 76%63$45,754$235,800$175 cheaper homes ($101K less) · smaller
Hollywood, FL 33020 76%1,071$56,473$353,300$324 larger · more single-family homes
Bridgeport, CT 06610 75%64$51,634$228,300$219 cheaper homes ($108K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Brooklyn, MD 21225 75%163$54,020$229,000$187 cheaper homes ($108K less) · 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.