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 Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Jamaica Plain: median income $131,551, home value $822,300, $642/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Washington, DC 20009 90%389$146,664$722,500$636 cheaper homes ($100K less)
Washington, DC 20010 90%388$114,126$886,600$471 pricier homes ($64K more)
Washington, DC 20002 88%388$120,337$826,400$494 larger · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60622 85%848$136,277$638,100$414 cheaper homes ($184K less) · newer homes
Montclair, NJ 07042 80%191$122,847$821,700$590 more single-family homes
Washington, DC 20008 80%389$125,212$965,100$596 pricier homes ($143K more) · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60647 77%850$107,060$586,200$403 cheaper homes ($236K less) · larger
Oakland, CA 94610 76%2,681$134,507$1,379,700$642 pricier homes ($557K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
Washington, DC 20007 75%391$140,996$1,292,400$727 pricier homes ($470K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Oakland, CA 94609 74%2,681$107,834$1,207,700$653 pricier homes ($385K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Philadelphia, PA 19147 73%267$105,755$530,900$366 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($291K less)
Arlington, VA 22206 72%395$140,877$586,000$431 cheaper homes ($236K less) · smaller · newer homes
Washington, DC 20011 71%387$110,309$723,900$379 cheaper homes ($98K less) · larger
Alexandria, VA 22305 71%394$113,537$864,500$521 pricier homes ($42K more) · smaller · newer homes
Berkeley, CA 94703 70%2,681$109,881$1,359,000$913 pricier homes ($537K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Weehawken, NJ 07086 69%184$127,763$889,000$672 pricier homes ($67K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Chicago, IL 60618 69%849$106,384$562,700$389 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($260K less) · larger
San Francisco, CA 94110 69%2,691$158,351$1,450,400$1,059 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($628K more) · larger
Washington, DC 20017 68%387$106,300$702,600$370 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($120K less) · smaller
Alexandria, VA 22302 67%395$123,539$631,100$441 cheaper homes ($191K less) · smaller · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98119 67%2,486$123,551$1,047,600$594 pricier homes ($225K more) · 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Providence, RI 02906 66%36$103,050$638,600$395 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($184K less) · smaller
New York, NY 10025 66%181$108,940$1,106,900$1,337 pricier homes ($285K more) · larger · older residents
Tarrytown, NY 10591 66%164$104,984$681,000$564 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($141K less) · smaller
Brooklyn, NY 11238 66%186$134,523$1,099,700$1,306 pricier homes ($277K more) · 8 min longer commute · 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.