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 Elizabeth, NJ 07208

Elizabeth: median income $65,511, home value $459,200, $321/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mount Vernon, NY 10550 93%26$60,701$494,300$300 pricier homes ($35K more) · 6 min longer commute
Lawrence, MA 01843 90%211$67,585$429,100$334 cheaper homes ($30K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Fall River, MA 02720 89%176$62,196$398,000$253 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Bridgeport, CT 06605 87%63$56,179$335,500$277 cheaper homes ($124K less)
Lowell, MA 01854 86%202$72,709$412,000$330 cheaper homes ($47K less) · younger residents
Lynn, MA 01902 86%210$67,046$478,000$348 larger · older homes
Woonsocket, RI 02895 86%167$61,059$311,000$228 cheaper homes ($148K less)
Fall River, MA 02724 85%173$55,590$402,800$256 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller
Mount Rainier, MD 20712 85%188$68,846$527,900$298 pricier homes ($69K more) · smaller
Hollywood, FL 33020 85%1,068$56,473$353,300$324 cheaper homes ($106K less)
Yonkers, NY 10701 84%26$64,776$370,400$306 cheaper homes ($89K less) · larger
Worcester, MA 01605 83%168$54,642$392,100$270 cheaper homes ($67K less) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Sacramento, CA 95841 83%2,480$61,054$424,500$289 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller · newer homes
Lakewood, WA 98499 83%2,405$67,292$408,500$327 cheaper homes ($51K less) · newer homes
Chelsea, MA 02150 82%203$72,179$493,500$400 pricier homes ($34K more) · older homes
Washington, DC 20019 82%190$58,296$456,800$252 larger · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Inglewood, CA 90302 82%2,442$73,777$738,900$459 pricier homes ($280K more)
Lowell, MA 01852 81%203$80,906$424,300$328 cheaper homes ($35K less) · more homeowners
Pawtucket, RI 02860 81%169$61,539$336,100$250 cheaper homes ($123K less) · more homeowners
Yonkers, NY 10705 81%24$67,918$505,400$267 pricier homes ($46K more) · 10 min longer commute
Los Angeles, CA 90033 81%2,433$59,652$707,200$396 pricier homes ($248K more) · younger residents
Panorama City, CA 91402 81%2,440$57,369$624,300$492 pricier homes ($165K more) · larger
Worcester, MA 01604 80%167$73,505$352,500$271 cheaper homes ($107K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Fall River, MA 02721 80%174$52,841$406,000$228 cheaper homes ($53K less) · older homes
New Bedford, MA 02744 79%184$58,675$372,700$317 cheaper homes ($87K less) · smaller · 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.