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 02114

Boston: median income $132,210, home value $924,400, $1,148/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New York, NY 10016 83%187$140,381$905,000$1,232 larger
New York, NY 10017 79%187$136,705$756,600$1,269 cheaper homes ($168K less) · older residents · less walkable
New York, NY 10019 78%187$128,559$1,061,300$1,244 pricier homes ($137K more) · larger · older residents
Washington, DC 20037 77%394$111,153$685,300$639 cheaper homes ($239K less)
Seattle, WA 98102 76%2,484$114,925$963,200$617 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
New York, NY 10010 75%188$144,969$1,036,200$1,985 pricier homes ($112K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Washington, DC 20005 74%393$116,724$640,600$605 cheaper homes ($284K less) · 6 min longer commute
New York, NY 10038 73%190$105,419$921,900$1,006 lower income ($27K less) · larger
Arlington, VA 22209 73%396$120,515$820,000$602 cheaper homes ($104K less) · newer homes
New York, NY 10001 71%188$129,852$561,100$1,736 cheaper homes ($363K less) · larger · less walkable
Los Angeles, CA 90025 70%2,601$103,894$1,079,700$699 lower income ($28K less) · pricier homes ($155K more) · larger
New York, NY 10065 69%186$155,331$1,419,800$1,371 pricier homes ($495K more) · larger · older residents
Santa Monica, CA 90403 69%2,604$121,925$1,548,900$1,021 pricier homes ($625K more) · larger · older residents
San Diego, CA 92109 67%2,580$122,128$1,226,900$1,117 pricier homes ($303K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Santa Monica, CA 90401 64%2,604$110,385$1,149,200$1,151 pricier homes ($225K more) · smaller · more renters
San Francisco, CA 94115 64%2,693$151,524$1,679,000$1,386 pricier homes ($755K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Seattle, WA 98119 64%2,486$123,551$1,047,600$594 pricier homes ($123K more) · larger · more homeowners
Washington, DC 20008 63%393$125,212$965,100$596 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger · older residents
New York, NY 10005 62%190$190,233$1,390,600$1,144 higher income ($58K more) · pricier homes ($466K more) · smaller
New York, NY 10075 62%190$155,902$991,900$1,342 pricier homes ($68K more) · larger · older residents
Brooklyn, NY 11201 62%190$173,136$1,110,700$1,355 higher income ($41K more) · pricier homes ($186K more) · larger
Washington, DC 20001 62%392$138,059$852,600$552 cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
West Hollywood, CA 90069 62%2,596$107,987$1,074,900$814 pricier homes ($151K more) · older residents · more homeowners
New York, NY 10003 61%188$154,262$1,123,200$1,776 pricier homes ($199K more) · larger · more homeowners
New York, NY 10012 61%189$137,106$1,602,800$2,291 pricier homes ($678K more) · older homes

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.