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 02118

Boston: median income $98,224, home value $1,058,200, $1,078/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New York, NY 10038 87%189$105,419$921,900$1,006 cheaper homes ($136K less) · newer homes
San Francisco, CA 94109 85%2,692$106,018$1,300,300$1,070 pricier homes ($242K more) · larger · more renters
New York, NY 10025 77%184$108,940$1,106,900$1,337 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Brooklyn, NY 11211 77%187$107,506$1,140,700$1,449 pricier homes ($83K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Brooklyn, NY 11205 76%188$93,887$917,400$1,061 cheaper homes ($141K less) · larger · younger residents
New York, NY 10026 75%183$81,244$1,052,300$901 10 min longer commute · less walkable
San Francisco, CA 94133 74%2,691$87,191$1,558,000$1,196 pricier homes ($500K more) · older residents · more renters
Los Angeles, CA 90048 73%2,596$103,495$1,932,000$952 pricier homes ($874K more) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Los Angeles, CA 90027 72%2,591$94,521$1,776,400$869 pricier homes ($718K more) · larger · more renters
Los Angeles, CA 90036 72%2,595$109,785$1,881,900$830 pricier homes ($824K more) · more renters
Santa Monica, CA 90404 72%2,603$95,139$1,244,400$819 pricier homes ($186K more) · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
New York, NY 10009 71%187$92,876$712,700$1,358 cheaper homes ($346K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Los Angeles, CA 90035 71%2,597$105,013$1,908,900$800 pricier homes ($851K more) · more single-family homes · newer homes
West Hollywood, CA 90069 71%2,596$107,987$1,074,900$814 older residents · more single-family homes · newer homes
Berkeley, CA 94709 71%2,682$89,054$1,375,000$877 pricier homes ($317K more) · smaller · younger residents
Los Angeles, CA 90034 70%2,599$105,701$1,516,600$909 pricier homes ($458K more) · larger · more renters
Los Angeles, CA 90046 70%2,595$96,250$1,515,000$841 pricier homes ($457K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Astoria, NY 11105 69%182$102,012$1,081,200$725 13 min longer commute
Los Angeles, CA 90025 69%2,601$103,894$1,079,700$699 larger · newer homes
Los Angeles, CA 90026 69%2,591$87,334$1,199,500$831 pricier homes ($141K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Oakland, CA 94609 69%2,683$107,834$1,207,700$653 pricier homes ($150K more) · more single-family homes
Washington, DC 20010 68%391$114,126$886,600$471 cheaper homes ($172K less)
Alexandria, VA 22305 68%396$113,537$864,500$521 cheaper homes ($194K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Santa Monica, CA 90403 68%2,604$121,925$1,548,900$1,021 pricier homes ($491K more) · older residents · newer homes
Brooklyn, NY 11222 66%186$125,734$1,376,300$1,418 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($318K more) · 11 min longer commute

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.