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.

Reset

Towns most like Cambridge, MA 02138

Cambridge: median income $119,967, home value $1,212,400, $919/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New York, NY 10003 75%187$154,262$1,123,200$1,776 higher income ($34K more) · cheaper homes ($89K less)
Washington, DC 20007 75%393$140,996$1,292,400$727 pricier homes ($80K more) · smaller · older residents
Berkeley, CA 94709 74%2,679$89,054$1,375,000$877 lower income ($31K less) · pricier homes ($163K more) · smaller
Washington, DC 20009 72%391$146,664$722,500$636 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($490K less) · older residents
Washington, DC 20008 70%391$125,212$965,100$596 cheaper homes ($247K less) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Berkeley, CA 94703 69%2,680$109,881$1,359,000$913 pricier homes ($147K more) · smaller · older residents
San Francisco, CA 94117 68%2,690$167,066$1,601,100$1,255 higher income ($47K more) · pricier homes ($389K more) · older residents
Washington, DC 20002 65%390$120,337$826,400$494 cheaper homes ($386K less) · larger · older residents
Washington, DC 20010 65%390$114,126$886,600$471 cheaper homes ($326K less) · 6 min longer commute
Oakland, CA 94609 64%2,680$107,834$1,207,700$653 smaller · older residents · 7 min longer commute
San Francisco, CA 94115 62%2,690$151,524$1,679,000$1,386 higher income ($32K more) · pricier homes ($467K more) · older residents
Seattle, WA 98119 62%2,483$123,551$1,047,600$594 cheaper homes ($165K less) · older residents · newer homes
Los Angeles, CA 90035 61%2,594$105,013$1,908,900$800 pricier homes ($697K more) · older residents · newer homes
New York, NY 10010 60%186$144,969$1,036,200$1,985 higher income ($25K more) · cheaper homes ($176K less) · older residents
Brooklyn, NY 11201 60%188$173,136$1,110,700$1,355 higher income ($53K more) · cheaper homes ($102K less) · larger
New York, NY 10065 59%184$155,331$1,419,800$1,371 higher income ($35K more) · pricier homes ($207K more) · older residents
San Francisco, CA 94118 59%2,691$163,995$1,784,700$1,272 higher income ($44K more) · pricier homes ($572K more) · older residents
Oakland, CA 94610 59%2,679$134,507$1,379,700$642 pricier homes ($167K more) · older residents · 8 min longer commute
Seattle, WA 98102 59%2,481$114,925$963,200$617 cheaper homes ($249K less) · older residents · more renters
New York, NY 10011 58%187$145,987$1,181,200$1,881 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($31K less) · older residents
Chicago, IL 60622 58%847$136,277$638,100$414 cheaper homes ($574K less) · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
San Diego, CA 92109 58%2,577$122,128$1,226,900$1,117 older residents · newer homes
San Francisco, CA 94110 58%2,690$158,351$1,450,400$1,059 higher income ($38K more) · pricier homes ($238K more) · larger
New York, NY 10016 57%186$140,381$905,000$1,232 cheaper homes ($307K less) · older residents · more renters
New York, NY 10025 57%183$108,940$1,106,900$1,337 cheaper homes ($106K less) · larger · older residents

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.