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 02111

Boston: median income $87,404, home value $1,033,500, $1,037/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New York, NY 10038 81%190$105,419$921,900$1,006 cheaper homes ($112K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Santa Monica, CA 90404 80%2,603$95,139$1,244,400$819 pricier homes ($211K more) · larger · older residents
Pasadena, CA 91101 78%2,582$87,813$682,300$636 cheaper homes ($351K less) · larger
Irvine, CA 92612 74%2,582$106,226$993,800$750 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger · newer homes
Los Angeles, CA 90025 72%2,601$103,894$1,079,700$699 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger
Glendale, CA 91203 71%2,589$82,364$728,700$615 cheaper homes ($305K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
San Francisco, CA 94103 68%2,693$116,438$1,022,800$857 higher income ($29K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Los Angeles, CA 90010 66%2,593$101,455$834,100$601 cheaper homes ($199K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
North Hollywood, CA 91601 66%2,594$79,607$1,000,000$637 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · 9 min longer commute
North Hollywood, CA 91602 66%2,594$102,914$1,055,900$636 larger · 7 min longer commute · more single-family homes
San Diego, CA 92101 66%2,578$91,566$793,100$693 cheaper homes ($240K less) · larger · newer homes
Santa Monica, CA 90401 65%2,604$110,385$1,149,200$1,151 pricier homes ($116K more) · more renters · newer homes
Pasadena, CA 91106 65%2,582$90,028$1,040,400$734 larger · 5 min longer commute · more single-family homes
San Diego, CA 92103 65%2,578$102,626$1,061,200$755 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · older residents
Sacramento, CA 95811 65%2,625$80,827$761,000$400 cheaper homes ($273K less) · more single-family homes
Los Angeles, CA 90034 64%2,599$105,701$1,516,600$909 pricier homes ($483K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
San Diego, CA 92104 64%2,576$94,014$914,700$761 cheaper homes ($119K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Seattle, WA 98102 64%2,485$114,925$963,200$617 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger
San Diego, CA 92108 63%2,575$103,884$618,700$563 cheaper homes ($415K less) · larger · newer homes
San Diego, CA 92116 63%2,575$98,154$940,700$925 cheaper homes ($93K less) · larger · more single-family homes
West Hollywood, CA 90069 62%2,596$107,987$1,074,900$814 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger · older residents
New York, NY 10036 61%187$95,638$952,900$1,304 cheaper homes ($81K less) · larger · older residents
Seattle, WA 98122 61%2,484$106,886$957,100$551 cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Dallas, TX 75201 60%1,549$103,761$688,100$614 cheaper homes ($345K less) · larger · more renters
Los Angeles, CA 90048 60%2,597$103,495$1,932,000$952 pricier homes ($899K more) · larger · older residents

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.