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 Somerville, MA 02144

Somerville: median income $150,313, home value $988,800, $713/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Washington, DC 20009 89%392$146,664$722,500$636 cheaper homes ($266K less) · larger
Washington, DC 20010 81%391$114,126$886,600$471 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($102K less)
Washington, DC 20002 79%391$120,337$826,400$494 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($162K less) · larger
San Francisco, CA 94117 78%2,690$167,066$1,601,100$1,255 pricier homes ($612K more)
Washington, DC 20008 76%392$125,212$965,100$596 lower income ($25K less) · older residents · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60622 75%847$136,277$638,100$414 cheaper homes ($351K less) · larger · newer homes
Brooklyn, NY 11238 73%189$134,523$1,099,700$1,306 pricier homes ($111K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Oakland, CA 94610 73%2,679$134,507$1,379,700$642 pricier homes ($391K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
Brooklyn, NY 11201 71%189$173,136$1,110,700$1,355 pricier homes ($122K more) · larger · newer homes
Brooklyn, NY 11217 71%190$162,863$1,636,500$1,385 pricier homes ($648K more) · larger
Washington, DC 20007 71%394$140,996$1,292,400$727 pricier homes ($304K more) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
San Francisco, CA 94110 71%2,690$158,351$1,450,400$1,059 pricier homes ($462K more) · larger · older residents
San Francisco, CA 94118 71%2,691$163,995$1,784,700$1,272 pricier homes ($796K more) · larger · older residents
Oakland, CA 94609 71%2,680$107,834$1,207,700$653 lower income ($42K less) · pricier homes ($219K more) · more single-family homes
Weehawken, NJ 07086 70%187$127,763$889,000$672 cheaper homes ($100K less) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
San Francisco, CA 94115 69%2,690$151,524$1,679,000$1,386 pricier homes ($690K more) · older residents
Brooklyn, NY 11231 68%191$139,930$1,611,200$1,376 pricier homes ($622K more) · larger · older residents
Montclair, NJ 07042 67%194$122,847$821,700$590 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($167K less) · older residents
Berkeley, CA 94703 66%2,679$109,881$1,359,000$913 lower income ($40K less) · pricier homes ($370K more) · older residents
Alexandria, VA 22305 65%397$113,537$864,500$521 lower income ($37K less) · cheaper homes ($124K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Seattle, WA 98119 64%2,482$123,551$1,047,600$594 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($59K more) · 8 min shorter commute
New York, NY 10003 63%188$154,262$1,123,200$1,776 pricier homes ($134K more) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
New York, NY 10005 63%190$190,233$1,390,600$1,144 higher income ($40K more) · pricier homes ($402K more) · smaller
New York, NY 10075 63%189$155,902$991,900$1,342 older residents · newer homes
Brooklyn, NY 11222 63%186$125,734$1,376,300$1,418 pricier homes ($388K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute

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.