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 07504

Paterson: median income $76,659, home value $381,600, $294/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lowell, MA 01850 88%190$69,780$390,800$313 Very close on everything we compare
New Bedford, MA 02744 88%175$58,675$372,700$317 Very close on everything we compare
Worcester, MA 01603 87%151$66,049$331,300$257 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger
Lawrence, MA 01843 84%197$67,585$429,100$334 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger · newer homes
Fall River, MA 02720 84%166$62,196$398,000$253 larger
Fall River, MA 02724 83%163$55,590$402,800$256 Very close on everything we compare
Providence, RI 02908 83%154$73,081$324,100$240 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger
New Bedford, MA 02740 81%174$55,237$345,800$259 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Pawtucket, RI 02860 81%157$61,539$336,100$250 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Providence, RI 02909 80%153$64,649$325,300$250 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger
Worcester, MA 01607 78%152$78,727$377,200$253 smaller · less walkable
Lowell, MA 01851 78%187$92,401$467,000$324 pricier homes ($85K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Lynn, MA 01902 77%197$67,046$478,000$348 pricier homes ($96K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Fall River, MA 02721 77%164$52,841$406,000$228 larger
Lawrence, MA 01841 76%197$56,971$403,400$305 larger
Providence, RI 02907 76%154$52,485$349,200$213 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Bremerton, WA 98337 74%2,404$68,561$417,700$268 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Chicopee, MA 01013 73%117$59,759$271,900$234 cheaper homes ($110K less) · larger · newer homes
Worcester, MA 01604 73%154$73,505$352,500$271 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · newer homes
Fall River, MA 02723 73%165$47,633$357,800$244 lower income ($29K less)
Providence, RI 02905 73%155$62,908$371,900$258 larger · 8 min longer commute
New London, CT 06320 73%110$59,170$253,300$223 cheaper homes ($128K less) · larger
Lowell, MA 01852 72%189$80,906$424,300$328 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Woonsocket, RI 02895 72%155$61,059$311,000$228 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Haverstraw, NY 10927 72%22$75,167$361,100$272 6 min longer commute · newer 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.