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 Lawrence, MA 01841

Lawrence: median income $56,971, home value $403,400, $305/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Passaic, NJ 07055 96%199$55,371$429,900$337 pricier homes ($27K more)
Pawtucket, RI 02860 88%59$61,539$336,100$250 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Providence, RI 02907 88%65$52,485$349,200$213 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller
Providence, RI 02909 88%63$64,649$325,300$250 cheaper homes ($78K less)
Elizabeth, NJ 07202 85%212$71,250$432,100$318 pricier homes ($29K more) · newer homes
Paterson, NJ 07503 85%199$60,443$350,900$320 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller · newer homes
Paterson, NJ 07522 85%198$48,058$290,900$293 cheaper homes ($113K less) · smaller
Central Falls, RI 02863 82%58$49,285$352,100$193 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller
Paterson, NJ 07514 82%197$70,205$342,900$302 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller · older residents
Perth Amboy, NJ 08861 81%221$64,491$370,900$328 cheaper homes ($33K less) · older residents · newer homes
Woonsocket, RI 02895 80%53$61,059$311,000$228 cheaper homes ($92K less) · 6 min longer commute
Paterson, NJ 07513 80%198$68,630$423,500$390 smaller
Paterson, NJ 07524 80%197$49,103$377,500$311 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Newark, NJ 07107 79%206$51,242$379,500$262 9 min longer commute · newer homes
New Haven, CT 06519 78%133$49,619$316,700$181 cheaper homes ($87K less) · smaller
Orange, NJ 07050 78%207$52,563$364,500$306 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller · 9 min longer commute
Elizabeth, NJ 07201 78%211$60,080$467,500$296 pricier homes ($64K more) · smaller · newer homes
Elizabeth, NJ 07208 78%211$65,511$459,200$321 pricier homes ($56K more) · smaller · older residents
Bridgeport, CT 06605 77%150$56,179$335,500$277 cheaper homes ($68K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
New London, CT 06320 76%106$59,170$253,300$223 cheaper homes ($150K less) · smaller
Paterson, NJ 07504 76%197$76,659$381,600$294 smaller
Providence, RI 02908 75%62$73,081$324,100$240 cheaper homes ($79K less) · more homeowners
Plainfield, NJ 07060 75%222$78,602$393,800$348 6 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Los Angeles, CA 90033 75%2,582$59,652$707,200$396 pricier homes ($304K more) · 6 min longer commute · more renters
Hartford, CT 06106 73%103$46,304$214,200$187 cheaper homes ($189K 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.