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 Somerville, MA 02143

Somerville: median income $130,753, home value $926,800, $769/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Washington, DC 20009 89%392$146,664$722,500$636 cheaper homes ($204K less) · larger
Washington, DC 20010 82%392$114,126$886,600$471 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Washington, DC 20002 80%391$120,337$826,400$494 cheaper homes ($100K less) · larger · newer homes
Washington, DC 20008 78%393$125,212$965,100$596 pricier homes ($38K more) · older residents · newer homes
Oakland, CA 94609 78%2,681$107,834$1,207,700$653 pricier homes ($281K more) · more single-family homes
San Francisco, CA 94117 75%2,692$167,066$1,601,100$1,255 higher income ($36K more) · pricier homes ($674K more)
Chicago, IL 60622 73%848$136,277$638,100$414 cheaper homes ($289K less) · larger · more homeowners
Berkeley, CA 94709 73%2,680$89,054$1,375,000$877 lower income ($42K less) · pricier homes ($448K more) · smaller
Brooklyn, NY 11238 72%189$134,523$1,099,700$1,306 pricier homes ($173K more) · larger · 9 min longer commute
San Francisco, CA 94115 71%2,691$151,524$1,679,000$1,386 pricier homes ($752K more) · older residents
Oakland, CA 94610 71%2,681$134,507$1,379,700$642 pricier homes ($453K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
San Francisco, CA 94109 70%2,690$106,018$1,300,300$1,070 pricier homes ($374K more) · larger · older residents
Berkeley, CA 94703 70%2,681$109,881$1,359,000$913 pricier homes ($432K more) · more single-family homes
Weehawken, NJ 07086 69%188$127,763$889,000$672 cheaper homes ($38K less) · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Alexandria, VA 22305 69%397$113,537$864,500$521 cheaper homes ($62K less) · newer homes
New York, NY 10038 68%189$105,419$921,900$1,006 lower income ($25K less) · newer homes
Brooklyn, NY 11217 68%190$162,863$1,636,500$1,385 higher income ($32K more) · pricier homes ($710K more) · larger
San Francisco, CA 94110 68%2,691$158,351$1,450,400$1,059 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($524K more) · larger
Seattle, WA 98102 68%2,482$114,925$963,200$617 pricier homes ($36K more) · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98119 68%2,484$123,551$1,047,600$594 pricier homes ($121K more) · 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
New York, NY 10025 67%184$108,940$1,106,900$1,337 pricier homes ($180K more) · larger · older residents
Brooklyn, NY 11201 67%190$173,136$1,110,700$1,355 higher income ($42K more) · pricier homes ($184K more) · larger
Washington, DC 20007 67%394$140,996$1,292,400$727 pricier homes ($366K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Los Angeles, CA 90036 67%2,593$109,785$1,881,900$830 pricier homes ($955K more) · larger · more renters
San Francisco, CA 94118 67%2,692$163,995$1,784,700$1,272 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($858K more) · 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.