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 Trenton, NJ 08638

Trenton: median income $66,875, home value $245,100, $257/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Milwaukee, WI 53220 94%708$69,319$229,300$213 Very close on everything we compare
Minneapolis, MN 55421 94%994$70,772$277,300$195 pricier homes ($32K more)
Schiller Park, IL 60176 93%692$69,696$275,000$219 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller
Claymont, DE 19703 92%48$76,939$284,700$223 pricier homes ($40K more)
Norfolk, VA 23503 92%242$67,649$293,100$223 pricier homes ($48K more)
Milwaukee, WI 53221 92%705$63,265$219,600$203 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
West Haven, CT 06516 91%118$74,382$291,700$246 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger
Whitehall, PA 18052 91%48$75,665$262,900$201 Very close on everything we compare
Bristol, PA 19007 91%10$65,511$290,300$256 pricier homes ($45K more)
Milwaukee, WI 53227 91%710$73,321$225,900$218 5 min shorter commute
Waterbury, CT 06708 90%126$67,364$218,500$202 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Allentown, PA 18103 90%44$72,895$272,700$193 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Saint Petersburg, FL 33712 90%975$60,450$326,000$269 pricier homes ($81K more)
Cudahy, WI 53110 90%701$66,719$216,500$203 cheaper homes ($29K less) · older residents
South Milwaukee, WI 53172 90%701$73,427$235,700$216 Very close on everything we compare
River Grove, IL 60171 90%690$69,858$241,800$243 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Providence, RI 02904 89%206$67,003$339,900$249 pricier homes ($95K more)
Norwich, CT 06360 89%166$65,539$245,700$203 larger
Bridgeport, CT 06606 89%105$73,372$289,000$271 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger
Cohoes, NY 12047 89%183$66,071$246,800$226 more renters
Norfolk, VA 23513 89%245$68,380$234,000$200 Very close on everything we compare
Norfolk, VA 23518 89%243$77,594$300,700$238 pricier homes ($56K more)
Meriden, CT 06450 88%136$71,250$242,600$211 larger
Pittsburgh, PA 15205 88%281$70,991$179,900$175 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Marcus Hook, PA 19061 88%46$82,005$252,400$217 Very close on everything we compare

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.