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 Bristol, PA 19007

Bristol: median income $65,511, home value $290,300, $256/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Melrose Park, IL 60160 97%688$66,189$275,800$230 Very close on everything we compare
Bridgeport, CT 06606 95%115$73,372$289,000$271 larger
Fitchburg, MA 01420 93%232$72,780$335,300$246 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger
Gardner, MA 01440 92%226$67,440$303,500$232 older residents
Schiller Park, IL 60176 92%689$69,696$275,000$219 smaller
New Bedford, MA 02745 91%232$74,034$368,600$316 pricier homes ($78K more)
Norwich, CT 06360 91%175$65,539$245,700$203 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Waterbury, CT 06708 91%136$67,364$218,500$202 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Trenton, NJ 08638 91%10$66,875$245,100$257 cheaper homes ($45K less)
River Grove, IL 60171 90%688$69,858$241,800$243 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
Chicopee, MA 01013 89%183$59,759$271,900$234 8 min shorter commute
Meriden, CT 06451 89%145$71,255$239,800$217 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Haverstraw, NY 10927 89%88$75,167$361,100$272 pricier homes ($71K more) · smaller
Southbridge, MA 01550 88%200$66,287$294,800$215 more renters
Webster, MA 01570 88%206$72,895$361,500$279 pricier homes ($71K more)
Worcester, MA 01603 88%215$66,049$331,300$257 pricier homes ($41K more) · older homes
Essex, MD 21221 88%102$67,340$271,500$187 larger
Norfolk, VA 23503 88%232$67,649$293,100$223 Very close on everything we compare
West Warwick, RI 02893 87%206$77,608$330,800$268 pricier homes ($41K more) · newer homes
Providence, RI 02904 87%215$67,003$339,900$249 pricier homes ($50K more) · newer homes
Gwynn Oak, MD 21207 87%114$67,060$260,300$187 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Milwaukee, WI 53221 87%704$63,265$219,600$203 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger
Meriden, CT 06450 86%145$71,250$242,600$211 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Wilmington, DE 19805 86%46$60,221$237,100$204 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Saint Petersburg, FL 33712 86%965$60,450$326,000$269 pricier homes ($36K more) · 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.