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 02115

Boston: median income $54,991, home value $945,100, $1,195/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Berkeley, CA 94704 76%2,681$50,129$906,100$961 cheaper homes ($39K less) · newer homes
New York, NY 10027 64%182$59,587$899,600$1,112 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger · older residents
Rochester, NY 14604 56%335$52,105$784,700— cheaper homes ($160K less) · smaller · older residents
Portland, ME 04101 54%100$63,880$617,600$568 cheaper homes ($328K less) · smaller · older residents
Berkeley, CA 94709 52%2,681$89,054$1,375,000$877 higher income ($34K more) · pricier homes ($430K more) · smaller
Los Angeles, CA 90028 46%2,592$61,349$1,043,100$675 pricier homes ($98K more) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
New York, NY 10009 43%186$92,876$712,700$1,358 higher income ($38K more) · cheaper homes ($232K less) · larger
Los Angeles, CA 90024 43%2,599$76,583$1,478,500$695 pricier homes ($533K more) · larger · more homeowners
San Francisco, CA 94102 42%2,691$60,431$935,900$963 older residents · 6 min longer commute
Brooklyn, NY 11205 40%187$93,887$917,400$1,061 higher income ($39K more) · cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Charleston, SC 29403 40%818$66,944$674,000$586 cheaper homes ($271K less) · older residents · more homeowners
New York, NY 10026 39%182$81,244$1,052,300$901 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($107K more) · older residents
Philadelphia, PA 19107 39%269$69,105$458,600$357 cheaper homes ($487K less) · smaller · older residents
Knoxville, TN 37902 39%815$50,161$687,500$579 cheaper homes ($258K less) · smaller · older residents
San Francisco, CA 94108 39%2,690$65,388$1,134,100$1,184 pricier homes ($189K more) · smaller · older residents
Burlington, VT 05401 38%182$65,657$492,100$360 cheaper homes ($453K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
New York, NY 10038 38%188$105,419$921,900$1,006 higher income ($50K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Brooklyn, NY 11211 38%186$107,506$1,140,700$1,449 higher income ($53K more) · pricier homes ($196K more) · larger
Los Angeles, CA 90038 38%2,592$61,454$1,177,100$664 pricier homes ($232K more) · older residents · 10 min longer commute
Brooklyn, NY 11206 37%186$61,430$839,800$993 cheaper homes ($105K less) · larger · older residents
Salt Lake City, UT 84102 37%2,091$52,199$548,700$364 cheaper homes ($396K less) · smaller · older residents
Los Angeles, CA 90005 37%2,592$49,419$975,200$551 pricier homes ($30K more) · older residents · 9 min longer commute
San Francisco, CA 94109 37%2,691$106,018$1,300,300$1,070 higher income ($51K more) · pricier homes ($355K more) · larger
Providence, RI 02903 36%40$64,476$408,900$475 cheaper homes ($536K less) · smaller · older residents
Madison, WI 53703 36%928$47,847$471,800$436 cheaper homes ($473K less) · newer 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.