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 Paterson, NJ 07501

Paterson: median income $44,300, home value $333,800, $248/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Las Vegas, NV 89101 83%2,217$39,459$283,800$226 cheaper homes ($50K less) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Las Vegas, NV 89119 82%2,219$46,960$328,100$219 newer homes
Las Vegas, NV 89169 82%2,219$40,904$315,100$213 smaller · older residents
Dallas, TX 75237 79%1,375$44,318$247,500$201 cheaper homes ($86K less) · smaller · newer homes
Houston, TX 77081 76%1,424$43,251$274,000$164 cheaper homes ($60K less) · 9 min longer commute
Minneapolis, MN 55404 74%1,003$41,940$291,600$223 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Las Vegas, NV 89102 74%2,222$49,843$376,300$247 pricier homes ($43K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Central Falls, RI 02863 73%159$49,285$352,100$193 smaller · 6 min longer commute · older homes
New Haven, CT 06519 73%69$49,619$316,700$181 smaller · older homes
Hartford, CT 06106 72%96$46,304$214,200$187 cheaper homes ($120K less) · older homes
Hartford, CT 06120 72%98$34,830$184,400$156 cheaper homes ($149K less) · smaller
New Bedford, MA 02746 71%176$41,917$358,700$222 smaller · 5 min longer commute · older homes
Reno, NV 89512 71%2,381$47,807$382,900$286 pricier homes ($49K more) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
New Britain, CT 06051 70%89$51,022$211,500$177 cheaper homes ($122K less) · more homeowners · older homes
Fresno, CA 93721 70%2,445$40,033$243,800$157 cheaper homes ($90K less) · smaller · older residents
Miami, FL 33136 69%1,101$44,843$416,900$328 pricier homes ($83K more) · smaller · older residents
Bridgeport, CT 06608 68%55$45,754$235,800$175 cheaper homes ($98K less) · smaller · 8 min longer commute
Orlando, FL 32839 68%951$47,313$280,700$191 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Houston, TX 77036 68%1,427$45,716$235,300$128 cheaper homes ($99K less) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Las Vegas, NV 89103 68%2,223$48,901$295,400$243 cheaper homes ($38K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Worcester, MA 01610 67%153$51,472$308,700$187 cheaper homes ($25K less) · older homes
Washington, DC 20032 67%208$49,139$407,700$215 pricier homes ($74K more) · 13 min longer commute
San Antonio, TX 78229 67%1,579$46,574$228,900$135 cheaper homes ($105K less) · newer homes
Lawrence, MA 01841 65%198$56,971$403,400$305 pricier homes ($70K more) · more homeowners · older homes
Bakersfield, CA 93301 65%2,440$43,561$295,700$209 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller · 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.