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 Allston, MA 02134

Allston: median income $78,679, home value $657,300, $616/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Philadelphia, PA 19107 72%267$69,105$458,600$357 cheaper homes ($199K less) · 10 min shorter commute
Astoria, NY 11106 71%182$84,867$610,400$652 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger · older residents
Philadelphia, PA 19103 64%268$99,644$582,500$477 cheaper homes ($75K less) · older residents · 8 min shorter commute
Berkeley, CA 94709 64%2,679$89,054$1,375,000$877 pricier homes ($718K more) · 8 min shorter commute
New York, NY 10009 61%185$92,876$712,700$1,358 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger · older residents
Sunnyside, NY 11104 61%182$80,709$610,100$631 cheaper homes ($47K less) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Denver, CO 80203 61%1,761$77,500$470,800$361 cheaper homes ($187K less) · 10 min shorter commute · newer homes
Portland, ME 04101 60%101$63,880$617,600$568 cheaper homes ($40K less) · older residents · 14 min shorter commute
New York, NY 10026 60%181$81,244$1,052,300$901 pricier homes ($395K more) · larger · older residents
Astoria, NY 11103 60%181$93,324$1,002,200$728 pricier homes ($345K more) · larger · older residents
Jersey City, NJ 07306 59%189$74,953$516,000$478 cheaper homes ($141K less) · larger · older residents
Astoria, NY 11102 59%181$96,617$719,200$1,126 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger · older residents
Brooklyn, NY 11205 59%186$93,887$917,400$1,061 pricier homes ($260K more) · larger · more homeowners
Denver, CO 80218 58%1,761$81,706$676,700$398 older residents · 10 min shorter commute · more homeowners
New York, NY 10027 57%181$59,587$899,600$1,112 pricier homes ($242K more) · larger · older residents
Astoria, NY 11105 57%180$102,012$1,081,200$725 pricier homes ($424K more) · larger · older residents
Washington, DC 20010 57%389$114,126$886,600$471 higher income ($35K more) · pricier homes ($229K more) · larger
Providence, RI 02903 55%40$64,476$408,900$475 cheaper homes ($248K less) · older residents · 10 min shorter commute
Jersey City, NJ 07307 54%187$83,297$582,600$567 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger · older residents
Brooklyn, NY 11237 54%184$85,196$1,084,600$663 pricier homes ($427K more) · larger · older residents
Philadelphia, PA 19130 54%267$112,037$491,800$347 higher income ($33K more) · cheaper homes ($166K less) · larger
Washington, DC 20002 54%389$120,337$826,400$494 higher income ($42K more) · pricier homes ($169K more) · larger
Washington, DC 20005 54%390$116,724$640,600$605 higher income ($38K more) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60640 54%846$73,254$370,300$353 cheaper homes ($287K less) · larger · older residents
Chicago, IL 60647 54%848$107,060$586,200$403 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger

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.