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 Charlestown, MA 02129

Charlestown: median income $157,247, home value $912,000, $948/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Washington, DC 20009 78%394$146,664$722,500$636 cheaper homes ($190K less) · larger · more renters
Washington, DC 20007 77%396$140,996$1,292,400$727 pricier homes ($380K more)
San Francisco, CA 94110 76%2,693$158,351$1,450,400$1,059 pricier homes ($538K more) · larger
New York, NY 10075 71%191$155,902$991,900$1,342 pricier homes ($80K more) · newer homes
Brooklyn, NY 11201 71%191$173,136$1,110,700$1,355 pricier homes ($199K more) · larger · more renters
Washington, DC 20010 71%393$114,126$886,600$471 lower income ($43K less) · cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger
San Francisco, CA 94117 71%2,694$167,066$1,601,100$1,255 pricier homes ($689K more) · larger · more renters
San Francisco, CA 94118 70%2,694$163,995$1,784,700$1,272 pricier homes ($873K more) · larger · more renters
San Francisco, CA 94122 69%2,696$146,250$1,517,700$1,144 pricier homes ($606K more) · larger · older residents
San Francisco, CA 94121 68%2,696$133,358$1,611,400$1,132 pricier homes ($699K more) · larger · older residents
New York, NY 10003 67%189$154,262$1,123,200$1,776 pricier homes ($211K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Brooklyn, NY 11217 66%191$162,863$1,636,500$1,385 pricier homes ($725K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Washington, DC 20002 66%393$120,337$826,400$494 lower income ($37K less) · cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger
New York, NY 10011 65%189$145,987$1,181,200$1,881 pricier homes ($269K more) · larger · older residents
Brooklyn, NY 11231 65%192$139,930$1,611,200$1,376 pricier homes ($699K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Washington, DC 20008 65%394$125,212$965,100$596 lower income ($32K less) · pricier homes ($53K more) · more renters
San Francisco, CA 94114 65%2,694$204,134$1,737,300$1,280 higher income ($47K more) · pricier homes ($825K more) · larger
San Francisco, CA 94115 65%2,693$151,524$1,679,000$1,386 pricier homes ($767K more) · larger · more renters
Oakland, CA 94610 65%2,683$134,507$1,379,700$642 pricier homes ($468K more) · larger · older residents
New York, NY 10021 64%186$158,677$1,377,500$1,262 pricier homes ($466K more) · larger · older residents
New York, NY 10022 64%187$172,026$1,108,200$1,092 pricier homes ($196K more) · larger · older residents
Chicago, IL 60622 64%851$136,277$638,100$414 cheaper homes ($274K less) · larger · newer homes
Brooklyn, NY 11238 63%191$134,523$1,099,700$1,306 pricier homes ($188K more) · larger · 10 min longer commute
Montclair, NJ 07042 62%196$122,847$821,700$590 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($90K less) · more single-family homes
New York, NY 10065 62%187$155,331$1,419,800$1,371 pricier homes ($508K more) · larger · more renters

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.