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 07522

Paterson: median income $48,058, home value $290,900, $293/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Bedford, MA 02746 90%176$41,917$358,700$222 pricier homes ($68K more)
Worcester, MA 01610 87%153$51,472$308,700$187 Very close on everything we compare
Fall River, MA 02723 87%167$47,633$357,800$244 pricier homes ($67K more) · older residents
Central Falls, RI 02863 87%159$49,285$352,100$193 pricier homes ($61K more)
Lawrence, MA 01841 85%198$56,971$403,400$305 pricier homes ($113K more) · larger
Hartford, CT 06106 85%96$46,304$214,200$187 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger
New Haven, CT 06519 84%69$49,619$316,700$181 pricier homes ($26K more)
New Bedford, MA 02744 82%176$58,675$372,700$317 pricier homes ($82K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Fall River, MA 02724 80%164$55,590$402,800$256 pricier homes ($112K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Providence, RI 02907 79%155$52,485$349,200$213 pricier homes ($58K more) · more homeowners
New Britain, CT 06051 77%89$51,022$211,500$177 cheaper homes ($79K less) · newer homes
Bridgeport, CT 06608 77%55$45,754$235,800$175 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Fall River, MA 02721 75%165$52,841$406,000$228 pricier homes ($115K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Springfield, MA 01107 74%116$35,632$243,600$187 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Hartford, CT 06114 74%96$52,110$232,800$158 cheaper homes ($58K less) · more homeowners
New Bedford, MA 02740 73%175$55,237$345,800$259 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger · older residents
Bridgeport, CT 06607 72%56$50,000$232,700$191 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Providence, RI 02909 71%155$64,649$325,300$250 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · more homeowners
Lawrence, MA 01843 69%198$67,585$429,100$334 pricier homes ($138K more) · newer homes
New London, CT 06320 69%112$59,170$253,300$223 cheaper homes ($38K less) · more homeowners
Worcester, MA 01605 68%155$54,642$392,100$270 pricier homes ($101K more) · newer homes
Pawtucket, RI 02860 68%159$61,539$336,100$250 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger · older residents
Fall River, MA 02720 67%167$62,196$398,000$253 pricier homes ($107K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Woonsocket, RI 02895 67%156$61,059$311,000$228 larger · 7 min longer commute · more homeowners
Springfield, MA 01108 66%116$50,661$250,900$181 cheaper homes ($40K less) · more homeowners · more single-family 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.