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 Cambridge, MA 02140

Cambridge: median income $135,286, home value $1,149,800, $931/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Weehawken, NJ 07086 82%187$127,763$889,000$672 cheaper homes ($261K less)
Washington, DC 20008 82%392$125,212$965,100$596 cheaper homes ($185K less) · older residents
San Francisco, CA 94115 82%2,689$151,524$1,679,000$1,386 pricier homes ($529K more) · larger
Oakland, CA 94610 82%2,679$134,507$1,379,700$642 pricier homes ($230K more) · larger · older residents
Brooklyn, NY 11201 81%189$173,136$1,110,700$1,355 higher income ($38K more) · cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
San Francisco, CA 94117 80%2,690$167,066$1,601,100$1,255 higher income ($32K more) · pricier homes ($451K more) · larger
New York, NY 10075 78%188$155,902$991,900$1,342 cheaper homes ($158K less) · older residents
New York, NY 10016 77%186$140,381$905,000$1,232 cheaper homes ($245K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
New York, NY 10128 77%183$147,772$1,442,000$1,157 pricier homes ($292K more) · larger · older residents
New York, NY 10065 76%185$155,331$1,419,800$1,371 pricier homes ($270K more) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Seattle, WA 98119 76%2,482$123,551$1,047,600$594 cheaper homes ($102K less) · 8 min shorter commute · newer homes
New York, NY 10010 75%186$144,969$1,036,200$1,985 cheaper homes ($114K less)
New York, NY 10038 75%188$105,419$921,900$1,006 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($228K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Washington, DC 20007 75%393$140,996$1,292,400$727 pricier homes ($143K more) · 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Washington, DC 20009 75%391$146,664$722,500$636 cheaper homes ($427K less) · larger · older homes
Santa Monica, CA 90403 75%2,600$121,925$1,548,900$1,021 pricier homes ($399K more) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
San Francisco, CA 94118 75%2,691$163,995$1,784,700$1,272 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($635K more) · larger
Berkeley, CA 94703 75%2,679$109,881$1,359,000$913 lower income ($25K less) · pricier homes ($209K more) · more single-family homes
Seattle, WA 98102 75%2,480$114,925$963,200$617 cheaper homes ($187K less) · 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
New York, NY 10019 74%185$128,559$1,061,300$1,244 cheaper homes ($89K less) · larger · older residents
Brooklyn, NY 11238 74%188$134,523$1,099,700$1,306 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
West Hollywood, CA 90069 74%2,593$107,987$1,074,900$814 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($75K less) · older residents
Brooklyn, NY 11217 73%189$162,863$1,636,500$1,385 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($487K more) · larger
Brooklyn, NY 11231 73%190$139,930$1,611,200$1,376 pricier homes ($461K more) · larger · older homes
Washington, DC 20002 73%390$120,337$826,400$494 cheaper homes ($323K 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.