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 02127

Boston: median income $164,387, home value $863,700, $828/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Washington, DC 20009 83%393$146,664$722,500$636 cheaper homes ($141K less)
Brooklyn, NY 11201 79%190$173,136$1,110,700$1,355 pricier homes ($247K more) · larger
Washington, DC 20002 78%392$120,337$826,400$494 lower income ($44K less) · cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Chicago, IL 60622 77%852$136,277$638,100$414 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($226K less)
San Francisco, CA 94110 75%2,695$158,351$1,450,400$1,059 pricier homes ($587K more) · larger · older residents
Washington, DC 20010 74%392$114,126$886,600$471 lower income ($50K less)
Washington, DC 20007 72%395$140,996$1,292,400$727 pricier homes ($429K more) · older residents
Arlington, VA 22206 70%399$140,877$586,000$431 cheaper homes ($278K less) · smaller · newer homes
San Francisco, CA 94117 70%2,695$167,066$1,601,100$1,255 pricier homes ($737K more) · more renters
Oakland, CA 94610 70%2,684$134,507$1,379,700$642 lower income ($30K less) · pricier homes ($516K more) · older residents
Weehawken, NJ 07086 69%188$127,763$889,000$672 lower income ($37K less) · pricier homes ($25K more) · smaller
New York, NY 10075 69%190$155,902$991,900$1,342 pricier homes ($128K more) · smaller · older residents
Washington, DC 20008 68%393$125,212$965,100$596 lower income ($39K less) · pricier homes ($101K more) · older residents
Seattle, WA 98119 68%2,488$123,551$1,047,600$594 lower income ($41K less) · pricier homes ($184K more) · 6 min shorter commute
San Francisco, CA 94118 67%2,696$163,995$1,784,700$1,272 pricier homes ($921K more) · older residents
Brooklyn, NY 11217 66%190$162,863$1,636,500$1,385 pricier homes ($773K more) · more renters
Brooklyn, NY 11238 66%190$134,523$1,099,700$1,306 lower income ($30K less) · pricier homes ($236K more) · larger
Chicago, IL 60614 66%850$136,448$720,400$506 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($143K less) · larger
San Francisco, CA 94115 66%2,695$151,524$1,679,000$1,386 pricier homes ($815K more) · more renters
Hoboken, NJ 07030 65%190$180,579$895,100$974 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
New York, NY 10016 65%188$140,381$905,000$1,232 pricier homes ($41K more) · more renters · newer homes
Alexandria, VA 22305 65%398$113,537$864,500$521 lower income ($51K less) · smaller
San Francisco, CA 94122 65%2,698$146,250$1,517,700$1,144 pricier homes ($654K more) · larger · older residents
New York, NY 10003 64%189$154,262$1,123,200$1,776 pricier homes ($260K more) · 7 min shorter commute
New York, NY 10038 64%190$105,419$921,900$1,006 lower income ($59K less) · pricier homes ($58K more) · smaller

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.