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 02109

Boston: median income $158,843, home value $958,000, $1,152/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New York, NY 10005 75%191$190,233$1,390,600$1,144 higher income ($31K more) · pricier homes ($433K more) · larger
New York, NY 10017 67%187$136,705$756,600$1,269 cheaper homes ($201K less) · larger · older residents
New York, NY 10004 63%190$250,000+*$1,477,700$1,175 higher income ($91K more) · pricier homes ($520K more) · 5 min longer commute
New York, NY 10010 63%188$144,969$1,036,200$1,985 pricier homes ($78K more) · larger · less walkable
New York, NY 10006 62%191$190,170$1,090,300$1,834 higher income ($31K more) · pricier homes ($132K more) · 12 min longer commute
New York, NY 10280 62%191$206,299$976,300$1,104 higher income ($47K more) · larger · older residents
New York, NY 10065 60%186$155,331$1,419,800$1,371 pricier homes ($462K more) · larger · older residents
New York, NY 10075 60%190$155,902$991,900$1,342 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · older residents
Washington, DC 20005 59%394$116,724$640,600$605 lower income ($42K less) · cheaper homes ($317K less) · larger
Washington, DC 20037 58%395$111,153$685,300$639 lower income ($48K less) · cheaper homes ($273K less) · larger
San Francisco, CA 94115 58%2,694$151,524$1,679,000$1,386 pricier homes ($721K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
New York, NY 10003 57%189$154,262$1,123,200$1,776 pricier homes ($165K more) · larger · less walkable
New York, NY 10012 57%190$137,106$1,602,800$2,291 pricier homes ($645K more) · larger · older homes
New York, NY 10016 57%188$140,381$905,000$1,232 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger · less walkable
New York, NY 10014 56%189$176,395$1,284,100$2,268 pricier homes ($326K more) · larger · older residents
San Francisco, CA 94117 56%2,694$167,066$1,601,100$1,255 pricier homes ($643K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
New York, NY 10038 54%190$105,419$921,900$1,006 lower income ($53K less) · cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Washington, DC 20007 54%395$140,996$1,292,400$727 pricier homes ($334K more) · larger · more homeowners
Washington, DC 20008 54%394$125,212$965,100$596 lower income ($34K less) · larger · older residents
Seattle, WA 98102 54%2,485$114,925$963,200$617 lower income ($44K less) · larger · newer homes
Brooklyn, NY 11201 53%191$173,136$1,110,700$1,355 pricier homes ($153K more) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Santa Monica, CA 90403 53%2,605$121,925$1,548,900$1,021 lower income ($37K less) · pricier homes ($591K more) · larger
Princeton, NJ 08542 52%233$105,524$754,100$676 lower income ($53K less) · cheaper homes ($204K less) · more single-family homes
Washington, DC 20009 52%393$146,664$722,500$636 cheaper homes ($236K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Arlington, VA 22209 52%396$120,515$820,000$602 lower income ($38K less) · cheaper homes ($138K 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.