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 Dover, NJ 07801

Dover: median income $84,517, home value $392,400, $366/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Bedford, MA 02745 92%195$74,034$368,600$316 Very close on everything we compare
Taunton, MA 02780 90%191$74,471$413,900$326 larger
Haverhill, MA 01830 89%221$78,571$467,000$311 pricier homes ($75K more)
Seattle, WA 98168 89%2,370$88,083$548,000$369 pricier homes ($156K more)
Haverhill, MA 01832 88%219$83,041$429,000$320 pricier homes ($37K more) · newer homes
West Warwick, RI 02893 88%166$77,608$330,800$268 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Manchester, NH 03103 88%213$73,540$342,200$292 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Fitchburg, MA 01420 87%182$72,780$335,300$246 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger
Webster, MA 01570 87%160$72,895$361,500$279 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Everett, WA 98201 87%2,361$74,554$499,800$384 pricier homes ($107K more) · more walkable
Bremerton, WA 98310 87%2,384$75,878$440,500$286 pricier homes ($48K more) · newer homes
Biddeford, ME 04005 86%273$74,647$396,000$308 less walkable
Bridgeport, CT 06606 86%73$73,372$289,000$271 cheaper homes ($103K less) · larger
Riverdale, MD 20737 86%184$86,951$390,500$286 younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 86%1,074$75,952$423,300$350 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · more homeowners
Ansonia, CT 06401 85%82$86,178$285,800$236 cheaper homes ($107K less)
Haverstraw, NY 10927 85%36$75,167$361,100$272 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Newburgh, NY 12550 85%50$85,697$340,900$244 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Leominster, MA 01453 84%182$84,296$381,300$280 larger
Brockton, MA 02301 84%198$74,214$449,400$321 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Norwalk, CT 06854 84%60$86,679$460,500$436 pricier homes ($68K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334 84%1,067$75,361$469,700$375 pricier homes ($77K more) · more walkable
Riverside, CA 92501 84%2,373$81,886$509,300$410 pricier homes ($117K more) · younger residents
Lodi, CA 95240 84%2,467$82,137$472,100$339 pricier homes ($80K more) · larger · younger residents
Citrus Heights, CA 95610 84%2,455$83,327$485,900$319 pricier homes ($94K more) · larger · 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.