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 Boston, MA 02108

Boston: median income $212,928, home value $1,667,600, $1,406/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New York, NY 10004 84%190$250,000+*$1,477,700$1,175 higher income ($37K more) · cheaper homes ($190K less) · 5 min longer commute
San Francisco, CA 94123 62%2,692$218,603$2M+*$1,423 pricier homes ($332K more) · larger · 9 min longer commute
New York, NY 10005 61%190$190,233$1,390,600$1,144 cheaper homes ($277K less) · larger · younger residents
San Francisco, CA 94114 60%2,694$204,134$1,737,300$1,280 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger · older residents
New York, NY 10013 59%189$161,154$2M+*$2,091 lower income ($52K less) · pricier homes ($332K more) · larger
New York, NY 10014 58%189$176,395$1,284,100$2,268 lower income ($37K less) · cheaper homes ($384K less) · larger
San Francisco, CA 94117 55%2,694$167,066$1,601,100$1,255 lower income ($46K less) · cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger
San Francisco, CA 94118 52%2,694$163,995$1,784,700$1,272 lower income ($49K less) · pricier homes ($117K more) · larger
New York, NY 10065 51%186$155,331$1,419,800$1,371 lower income ($58K less) · cheaper homes ($248K less) · larger
Washington, DC 20007 51%394$140,996$1,292,400$727 lower income ($72K less) · cheaper homes ($375K less) · larger
San Francisco, CA 94115 51%2,693$151,524$1,679,000$1,386 lower income ($61K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
New York, NY 10003 50%188$154,262$1,123,200$1,776 lower income ($59K less) · cheaper homes ($544K less) · larger
New York, NY 10012 49%189$137,106$1,602,800$2,291 lower income ($76K less) · cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger
New York, NY 10024 49%185$181,560$1,687,800$1,481 lower income ($31K less) · larger · older residents
New York, NY 10028 49%185$175,121$1,602,600$1,460 lower income ($38K less) · cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger
New York, NY 10075 49%190$155,902$991,900$1,342 lower income ($57K less) · cheaper homes ($676K less) · larger
New York, NY 10021 48%185$158,677$1,377,500$1,262 lower income ($54K less) · cheaper homes ($290K less) · larger
New York, NY 10006 47%190$190,170$1,090,300$1,834 cheaper homes ($577K less) · younger residents · 12 min longer commute
New York, NY 10011 47%188$145,987$1,181,200$1,881 lower income ($67K less) · cheaper homes ($486K less) · larger
New York, NY 10022 47%186$172,026$1,108,200$1,092 lower income ($41K less) · cheaper homes ($559K less) · larger
Brooklyn, NY 11217 46%190$162,863$1,636,500$1,385 lower income ($50K less) · cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
San Francisco, CA 94131 46%2,694$199,211$1,713,300$1,192 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · 9 min longer commute
New York, NY 10010 44%188$144,969$1,036,200$1,985 lower income ($68K less) · cheaper homes ($631K less) · larger
New York, NY 10023 44%186$159,874$1,358,100$1,560 lower income ($53K less) · cheaper homes ($310K less) · larger
Brooklyn, NY 11201 44%190$173,136$1,110,700$1,355 lower income ($40K less) · cheaper homes ($557K less) · larger

* The Census Bureau doesn’t publish exact figures above $250,000 for household income, $2,000,000 for home values or $3,500 for monthly rent; it reports them as “or more.”

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.