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 Troy, NY 12182

Troy: median income $56,984, home value $212,600, $170/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Waterbury, CT 06706 90%92$52,242$210,700$188 Very close on everything we compare
Chicopee, MA 01013 89%69$59,759$271,900$234 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger
Indian Orchard, MA 01151 89%73$55,324$237,200$219 smaller
Norwich, CT 06360 88%118$65,539$245,700$203 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger
Trenton, NJ 08618 88%185$50,390$227,000$186 larger
Gloucester City, NJ 08030 87%214$63,384$179,200$196 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Wilmington, DE 19805 87%232$60,221$237,100$204 larger
Cincinnati, OH 45237 87%615$44,913$170,600$150 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Holyoke, MA 01040 85%66$53,605$274,100$183 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
New Britain, CT 06053 85%88$62,645$220,800$214 larger · younger residents
Waterbury, CT 06705 85%92$53,954$202,400$198 larger · newer homes
Paulsboro, NJ 08066 85%219$65,070$200,200$207 smaller · more single-family homes
Baltimore, MD 21206 85%281$64,531$216,100$166 larger · 6 min longer commute
Brooklyn, MD 21225 85%290$54,020$229,000$187 larger
Portsmouth, VA 23707 85%435$48,926$230,800$178 more single-family homes
Newport, KY 41071 85%620$59,976$192,900$190 Very close on everything we compare
Milwaukee, WI 53214 85%726$60,962$188,300$197 larger · more walkable
Blue Island, IL 60406 85%720$56,557$175,200$138 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · newer homes
New Orleans, LA 70117 85%1,266$45,764$260,000$162 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger
East Hartford, CT 06108 84%88$56,663$230,500$205 larger · newer homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15212 84%365$64,077$177,500$167 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · more walkable
Bethlehem, PA 18015 84%175$60,800$281,700$184 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger · younger residents
Scranton, PA 18509 84%138$51,062$183,700$129 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Prospect Park, PA 19076 84%218$64,231$244,000$229 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller
Portsmouth, VA 23704 84%435$49,583$230,300$175 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.