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 Brighton, MA 02135

Brighton: median income $90,829, home value $681,200, $631/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Washington, DC 20002 78%387$120,337$826,400$494 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($145K more) · larger
Astoria, NY 11106 77%180$84,867$610,400$652 cheaper homes ($71K less) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Philadelphia, PA 19103 76%267$99,644$582,500$477 cheaper homes ($99K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60657 75%844$110,939$537,800$428 cheaper homes ($143K less) · larger · more homeowners
Jersey City, NJ 07306 73%187$74,953$516,000$478 cheaper homes ($165K less) · older residents
New York, NY 10038 73%186$105,419$921,900$1,006 pricier homes ($241K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Brooklyn, NY 11205 73%185$93,887$917,400$1,061 pricier homes ($236K more)
Washington, DC 20005 72%389$116,724$640,600$605 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller
Silver Spring, MD 20910 72%385$112,134$730,900$364 pricier homes ($50K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Alexandria, VA 22305 72%393$113,537$864,500$521 pricier homes ($183K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Denver, CO 80218 72%1,760$81,706$676,700$398 smaller · older residents · 9 min shorter commute
Seattle, WA 98102 72%2,481$114,925$963,200$617 pricier homes ($282K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Weehawken, NJ 07086 71%184$127,763$889,000$672 higher income ($37K more) · pricier homes ($208K more) · smaller
New York, NY 10026 71%180$81,244$1,052,300$901 pricier homes ($371K more) · older residents
Washington, DC 20010 71%388$114,126$886,600$471 pricier homes ($205K more) · more homeowners · older homes
Chicago, IL 60647 71%847$107,060$586,200$403 cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger · more homeowners
Emeryville, CA 94608 71%2,679$120,239$849,600$508 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($168K more) · newer homes
Jersey City, NJ 07307 70%186$83,297$582,600$567 cheaper homes ($99K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Philadelphia, PA 19130 70%266$112,037$491,800$347 cheaper homes ($189K less) · more homeowners
Washington, DC 20024 70%390$107,411$526,700$367 cheaper homes ($155K less) · smaller · older residents
Chicago, IL 60613 70%844$95,572$390,800$337 cheaper homes ($290K less) · more homeowners
Los Angeles, CA 90025 70%2,597$103,894$1,079,700$699 pricier homes ($399K more) · 8 min shorter commute · newer homes
Denver, CO 80203 69%1,760$77,500$470,800$361 cheaper homes ($210K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Astoria, NY 11105 68%179$102,012$1,081,200$725 pricier homes ($400K more) · older residents · 8 min longer commute
New York, NY 10009 67%184$92,876$712,700$1,358 pricier homes ($32K more) · older residents · 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.