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 07524

Paterson: median income $49,103, home value $377,500, $311/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Bedford, MA 02746 92%175$41,917$358,700$222 Very close on everything we compare
Fall River, MA 02723 87%165$47,633$357,800$244 more homeowners
Central Falls, RI 02863 87%158$49,285$352,100$193 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger
New Bedford, MA 02744 82%175$58,675$372,700$317 more homeowners · more single-family homes
Worcester, MA 01610 80%152$51,472$308,700$187 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger · younger residents
Lawrence, MA 01841 80%197$56,971$403,400$305 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Fall River, MA 02724 80%163$55,590$402,800$256 pricier homes ($25K more) · older residents · more homeowners
New Haven, CT 06519 79%68$49,619$316,700$181 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Fall River, MA 02721 75%164$52,841$406,000$228 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · older residents
Bridgeport, CT 06608 74%54$45,754$235,800$175 cheaper homes ($142K less) · newer homes
Providence, RI 02907 70%154$52,485$349,200$213 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · more homeowners
Hartford, CT 06106 70%95$46,304$214,200$187 cheaper homes ($163K less) · larger
Dorchester, MA 02121 68%185$43,136$590,200$269 pricier homes ($213K more) · larger · 12 min longer commute
Lawrence, MA 01843 67%196$67,585$429,100$334 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger · more homeowners
Providence, RI 02909 66%153$64,649$325,300$250 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger · more homeowners
New Bedford, MA 02740 65%174$55,237$345,800$259 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · older residents
Chelsea, MA 02150 64%190$72,179$493,500$400 pricier homes ($116K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Fall River, MA 02720 64%166$62,196$398,000$253 larger · older residents · more homeowners
New Britain, CT 06051 64%88$51,022$211,500$177 cheaper homes ($166K less) · larger · newer homes
Hartford, CT 06105 64%95$41,937$402,300$157 Very close on everything we compare
Bridgeport, CT 06605 64%52$56,179$335,500$277 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Bridgeport, CT 06607 64%54$50,000$232,700$191 cheaper homes ($145K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Hartford, CT 06114 63%95$52,110$232,800$158 cheaper homes ($145K less) · larger · more homeowners
Springfield, MA 01107 62%115$35,632$243,600$187 cheaper homes ($134K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Worcester, MA 01605 62%154$54,642$392,100$270 larger · more single-family homes · 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.