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 North Providence, RI 02911

North Providence: median income $89,456, home value $360,200, $251/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Emmaus, PA 18049 94%229$93,694$315,700$208 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Wilmington, DE 19809 94%256$81,288$314,900$217 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Villa Park, IL 60181 94%848$92,142$311,500$269 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Stratford, CT 06615 93%98$81,534$364,700$306 Very close on everything we compare
Willow Grove, PA 19090 93%224$99,928$369,100$256 Very close on everything we compare
Worcester, MA 01606 92%36$92,105$370,800$317 Very close on everything we compare
Riverside, RI 02915 92%8$84,414$357,600$305 older residents
Rumford, RI 02916 92%6$95,263$404,100$273 pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller · older residents
West Hartford, CT 06110 92%65$87,539$285,200$291 cheaper homes ($75K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55420 92%1,111$82,170$328,400$207 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Minneapolis, MN 55423 92%1,110$85,182$343,900$217 larger
Des Plaines, IL 60018 92%841$90,574$318,100$272 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Warwick, RI 02886 91%11$92,047$366,400$285 larger
Cranston, RI 02920 91%6$80,717$370,000$280 larger
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002 91%228$100,951$331,200$254 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Merchantville, NJ 08109 90%228$90,242$252,000$222 cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger
Souderton, PA 18964 90%229$96,143$356,100$253 newer homes
Worcester, MA 01602 89%34$91,764$417,300$291 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger
Morton, PA 19070 89%242$95,795$323,100$248 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Chicago, IL 60656 89%842$95,766$348,700$275 larger
Cranston, RI 02910 88%6$90,698$338,700$271 larger · older homes
Oaklyn, NJ 08107 88%232$80,833$300,500$259 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Trenton, NJ 08619 88%202$105,946$352,500$300 larger
Norfolk, VA 23518 88%425$77,594$300,700$238 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger
South Saint Paul, MN 55075 88%1,100$88,386$281,700$196 cheaper homes ($79K 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.

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