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 07514

Paterson: median income $70,205, home value $342,900, $302/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lawrence, MA 01843 91%196$67,585$429,100$334 pricier homes ($86K more)
Fall River, MA 02720 91%165$62,196$398,000$253 pricier homes ($55K more)
Fall River, MA 02724 90%163$55,590$402,800$256 pricier homes ($60K more)
New Bedford, MA 02744 85%174$58,675$372,700$317 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller · older homes
Pawtucket, RI 02860 85%157$61,539$336,100$250 larger
Fall River, MA 02721 83%164$52,841$406,000$228 pricier homes ($63K more)
Lawrence, MA 01841 82%197$56,971$403,400$305 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger · younger residents
New Bedford, MA 02740 81%174$55,237$345,800$259 larger · older homes
Woonsocket, RI 02895 81%154$61,059$311,000$228 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Worcester, MA 01603 79%150$66,049$331,300$257 more homeowners
Providence, RI 02909 79%153$64,649$325,300$250 larger · younger residents · older homes
Worcester, MA 01604 78%153$73,505$352,500$271 larger
Fall River, MA 02723 77%165$47,633$357,800$244 older homes
Providence, RI 02908 76%154$73,081$324,100$240 larger · younger residents
New London, CT 06320 76%110$59,170$253,300$223 cheaper homes ($90K less)
Chicopee, MA 01013 75%116$59,759$271,900$234 cheaper homes ($71K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Lowell, MA 01854 75%188$72,709$412,000$330 pricier homes ($69K more) · younger residents · newer homes
Lynn, MA 01902 75%197$67,046$478,000$348 pricier homes ($135K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Providence, RI 02907 75%153$52,485$349,200$213 larger · younger residents · older homes
Haverstraw, NY 10927 75%21$75,167$361,100$272 smaller · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Lowell, MA 01852 74%188$80,906$424,300$328 pricier homes ($81K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Norristown, PA 19401 74%83$69,908$234,000$201 cheaper homes ($109K less) · larger
Southbridge, MA 01550 73%135$66,287$294,800$215 cheaper homes ($48K less) · 6 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Lowell, MA 01850 73%189$69,780$390,800$313 pricier homes ($48K more) · younger residents · more homeowners
New Haven, CT 06519 73%68$49,619$316,700$181 cheaper homes ($26K less) · younger residents

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.