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 07502

Paterson: median income $76,790, home value $375,300, $381/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Bedford, MA 02745 90%177$74,034$368,600$316 older residents
Lowell, MA 01850 88%191$69,780$390,800$313 older homes
Fitchburg, MA 01420 84%168$72,780$335,300$246 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Bristol, PA 19007 84%65$65,511$290,300$256 cheaper homes ($85K less)
Riverdale, MD 20737 84%198$86,951$390,500$286 7 min longer commute
Melrose Park, IL 60160 84%711$66,189$275,800$230 cheaper homes ($100K less)
Haverstraw, NY 10927 83%22$75,167$361,100$272 Very close on everything we compare
West Sacramento, CA 95605 83%2,489$71,924$428,900$356 pricier homes ($54K more) · newer homes
Worcester, MA 01603 82%152$66,049$331,300$257 cheaper homes ($44K less) · older homes
Lynn, MA 01905 82%198$84,333$499,200$377 pricier homes ($124K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Pawtucket, RI 02861 82%161$83,411$315,400$252 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger
Hawaiian Gardens, CA 90716 82%2,432$76,410$569,400$488 pricier homes ($194K more) · more renters · newer homes
Pomona, CA 91768 82%2,410$76,041$573,200$521 pricier homes ($198K more) · larger
Riverside, CA 92501 82%2,391$81,886$509,300$410 pricier homes ($134K more) · newer homes
Sacramento, CA 95815 82%2,484$60,097$346,500$328 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · more renters
Bridgeport, CT 06606 81%55$73,372$289,000$271 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger
Haverhill, MA 01830 80%206$78,571$467,000$311 pricier homes ($92K more) · larger · older residents
Brockton, MA 02301 80%182$74,214$449,400$321 pricier homes ($74K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Taunton, MA 02780 80%174$74,471$413,900$326 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
Pompano Beach, FL 33060 80%1,070$64,819$377,500$330 larger · newer homes
Westminster, CO 80030 80%1,617$61,092$439,400$268 pricier homes ($64K more)
Sparks, NV 89431 80%2,378$66,592$365,100$294 larger · newer homes
Modesto, CA 95354 80%2,482$72,879$389,600$305 more single-family homes
Bremerton, WA 98310 80%2,400$75,878$440,500$286 pricier homes ($65K more) · newer homes
Miami, FL 33162 79%1,091$60,692$403,300$355 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger

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.