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 07114

Newark: median income $36,019, home value $373,200, $226/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Las Vegas, NV 89169 92%2,219$40,904$315,100$213 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger
Las Vegas, NV 89101 85%2,217$39,459$283,800$226 cheaper homes ($89K less) · larger
Dallas, TX 75237 78%1,369$44,318$247,500$201 cheaper homes ($126K less) · newer homes
Washington, DC 20032 75%198$49,139$407,700$215 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Las Vegas, NV 89119 75%2,220$46,960$328,100$219 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · newer homes
Fresno, CA 93701 75%2,445$32,768$246,400$172 cheaper homes ($127K less) · more single-family homes
Bridgeport, CT 06608 73%62$45,754$235,800$175 cheaper homes ($137K less) · older homes
Hartford, CT 06120 72%108$34,830$184,400$156 cheaper homes ($189K less) · younger residents
Miami, FL 33136 72%1,087$44,843$416,900$328 pricier homes ($44K more) · newer homes
Jacksonville, FL 32202 70%830$34,825$268,800$159 cheaper homes ($104K less) · smaller · older residents
Miami, FL 33135 70%1,089$40,567$418,500$381 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger · older residents
Las Vegas, NV 89102 70%2,222$49,843$376,300$247 larger · more single-family homes
New Haven, CT 06519 69%77$49,619$316,700$181 cheaper homes ($57K less) · 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Houston, TX 77081 69%1,416$43,251$274,000$164 cheaper homes ($99K less) · larger · younger residents
Los Angeles, CA 90058 69%2,436$37,557$464,200— pricier homes ($91K more) · smaller · older homes
New Bedford, MA 02746 68%182$41,917$358,700$222 older homes
Central Falls, RI 02863 68%166$49,285$352,100$193 larger · older homes
Orlando, FL 32839 68%938$47,313$280,700$191 cheaper homes ($93K less) · larger · newer homes
Tampa, FL 33613 68%990$44,032$272,700$233 cheaper homes ($101K less) · larger · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60653 68%701$40,666$361,000$197 larger
Bakersfield, CA 93301 68%2,440$43,561$295,700$209 cheaper homes ($78K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Minneapolis, MN 55404 67%1,007$41,940$291,600$223 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Reno, NV 89512 67%2,383$47,807$382,900$286 larger · 8 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Fresno, CA 93721 67%2,446$40,033$243,800$157 cheaper homes ($129K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Hartford, CT 06105 66%107$41,937$402,300$157 pricier homes ($29K more) · 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.