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 02113

Boston: median income $113,314, home value $662,000, $1,091/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Berkeley, CA 94709 68%2,682$89,054$1,375,000$877 pricier homes ($713K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Princeton, NJ 08542 59%233$105,524$754,100$676 pricier homes ($92K more) · smaller · older residents
New York, NY 10005 59%191$190,233$1,390,600$1,144 higher income ($77K more) · pricier homes ($729K more)
New York, NY 10017 57%187$136,705$756,600$1,269 pricier homes ($95K more) · larger · older residents
Philadelphia, PA 19103 57%271$99,644$582,500$477 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger · older residents
Washington, DC 20005 57%394$116,724$640,600$605 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Washington, DC 20009 57%394$146,664$722,500$636 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($61K more) · larger
New York, NY 10010 56%188$144,969$1,036,200$1,985 higher income ($32K more) · pricier homes ($374K more) · larger
New York, NY 10038 56%190$105,419$921,900$1,006 pricier homes ($260K more) · larger · more homeowners
Washington, DC 20037 54%395$111,153$685,300$639 larger · more homeowners · newer homes
New York, NY 10012 52%190$137,106$1,602,800$2,291 pricier homes ($941K more) · larger · older residents
New York, NY 10001 51%189$129,852$561,100$1,736 cheaper homes ($101K less) · larger · older residents
New York, NY 10003 51%189$154,262$1,123,200$1,776 higher income ($41K more) · pricier homes ($461K more) · larger
New York, NY 10006 51%191$190,170$1,090,300$1,834 higher income ($77K more) · pricier homes ($428K more) · smaller
New York, NY 10009 51%189$92,876$712,700$1,358 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger · older residents
New York, NY 10016 51%188$140,381$905,000$1,232 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($243K more) · larger
Washington, DC 20036 50%394$99,832$449,300$541 cheaper homes ($213K less) · older residents · more homeowners
San Francisco, CA 94109 50%2,692$106,018$1,300,300$1,070 pricier homes ($638K more) · larger · older residents
Seattle, WA 98102 50%2,485$114,925$963,200$617 pricier homes ($301K more) · larger · newer homes
Washington, DC 20008 49%394$125,212$965,100$596 pricier homes ($303K more) · larger · older residents
New York, NY 10019 47%188$128,559$1,061,300$1,244 pricier homes ($399K more) · larger · older residents
Washington, DC 20010 46%393$114,126$886,600$471 pricier homes ($225K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
San Francisco, CA 94115 46%2,693$151,524$1,679,000$1,386 higher income ($38K more) · pricier homes ($1017K more) · larger
San Francisco, CA 94117 46%2,694$167,066$1,601,100$1,255 higher income ($54K more) · pricier homes ($939K more) · larger
Brooklyn, NY 11222 45%188$125,734$1,376,300$1,418 pricier homes ($714K 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.