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.

Reset

Towns most like Norfolk, VA 23503

Norfolk: median income $67,649, home value $293,100, $223/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Atlanta, GA 30344 94%514$68,380$275,000$170 Very close on everything we compare
West Haven, CT 06516 93%347$74,382$291,700$246 larger
Maple Shade, NJ 08052 93%219$79,087$250,600$233 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller
Cohoes, NY 12047 93%425$66,071$246,800$226 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Trenton, NJ 08638 92%242$66,875$245,100$257 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Atlanta, GA 30354 92%511$63,189$273,700$199 smaller
Houston, TX 77080 92%1,213$62,134$345,000$199 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger
Clementon, NJ 08021 91%209$68,044$217,000$210 cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger
Bethlehem, PA 18015 91%257$60,800$281,700$184 Very close on everything we compare
Claymont, DE 19703 91%202$76,939$284,700$223 smaller
Marietta, GA 30060 91%510$67,510$316,000$231 newer homes
Fitchburg, MA 01420 90%455$72,780$335,300$246 pricier homes ($42K more) · older homes
Providence, RI 02904 90%425$67,003$339,900$249 pricier homes ($47K more) · more walkable
Norwich, CT 06360 90%388$65,539$245,700$203 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 90%352$63,652$301,700$229 less walkable
Orlando, FL 32807 90%650$59,971$272,700$238 newer homes
Houston, TX 77035 90%1,217$58,686$283,800$164 Very close on everything we compare
Bridgeport, CT 06606 89%337$73,372$289,000$271 larger
Gwynn Oak, MD 21207 89%167$67,060$260,300$187 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · more homeowners
Milwaukee, WI 53220 89%747$69,319$229,300$213 cheaper homes ($64K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Dallas, TX 75228 89%1,190$62,667$282,700$214 larger
Colorado Springs, CO 80910 89%1,554$61,969$320,300$198 pricier homes ($27K more) · newer homes
Worcester, MA 01604 88%437$73,505$352,500$271 pricier homes ($59K more)
Vernon Rockville, CT 06066 88%395$85,356$275,500$226 Very close on everything we compare
Waterbury, CT 06708 88%361$67,364$218,500$202 cheaper homes ($75K less)

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.