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 07503

Paterson: median income $60,443, home value $350,900, $320/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lawrence, MA 01843 92%198$67,585$429,100$334 pricier homes ($78K more)
Worcester, MA 01605 85%156$54,642$392,100$270 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
Lawrence, MA 01841 85%199$56,971$403,400$305 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger · older homes
Fall River, MA 02724 84%164$55,590$402,800$256 pricier homes ($52K more) · older residents · older homes
New Bedford, MA 02744 81%175$58,675$372,700$317 smaller · older homes
New Haven, CT 06519 81%69$49,619$316,700$181 cheaper homes ($34K less) · older homes
Bridgeport, CT 06605 81%52$56,179$335,500$277 8 min longer commute
Sacramento, CA 95825 81%2,485$64,602$440,200$292 pricier homes ($89K more) · larger · newer homes
Lowell, MA 01854 80%189$72,709$412,000$330 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Phoenix, AZ 85015 80%2,132$54,874$345,000$247 larger
Sacramento, CA 95841 79%2,480$61,054$424,500$289 pricier homes ($74K more) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Fall River, MA 02720 78%167$62,196$398,000$253 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger · older residents
Las Vegas, NV 89102 78%2,222$49,843$376,300$247 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger · newer homes
Pawtucket, RI 02860 77%158$61,539$336,100$250 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Reno, NV 89502 77%2,382$65,328$413,200$310 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Central Falls, RI 02863 76%159$49,285$352,100$193 older homes
Woonsocket, RI 02895 76%156$61,059$311,000$228 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Nashville, TN 37210 76%755$50,284$355,600$315 more single-family homes · newer homes
Providence, RI 02907 75%155$52,485$349,200$213 larger · older homes
Reno, NV 89512 75%2,382$47,807$382,900$286 pricier homes ($32K more) · newer homes
Fall River, MA 02723 74%166$47,633$357,800$244 older residents · older homes
Providence, RI 02909 74%154$64,649$325,300$250 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · more homeowners
New London, CT 06320 74%111$59,170$253,300$223 cheaper homes ($98K less) · older homes
Phoenix, AZ 85008 74%2,128$66,353$358,000$288 larger · more single-family homes · newer homes
Fall River, MA 02721 73%165$52,841$406,000$228 pricier homes ($55K more) · older residents · 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.