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 02145

Somerville: median income $123,755, home value $828,600, $598/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Washington, DC 20010 90%392$114,126$886,600$471 pricier homes ($58K more)
Washington, DC 20002 82%392$120,337$826,400$494 larger · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60647 82%850$107,060$586,200$403 cheaper homes ($242K less) · larger
Alexandria, VA 22305 80%398$113,537$864,500$521 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Oakland, CA 94609 80%2,681$107,834$1,207,700$653 pricier homes ($379K more) · more single-family homes
Astoria, NY 11105 78%183$102,012$1,081,200$725 pricier homes ($253K more) · 7 min longer commute
Montclair, NJ 07042 74%195$122,847$821,700$590 older residents · more single-family homes
Brooklyn, NY 11218 74%192$97,366$935,900$846 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($107K more) · larger
Chicago, IL 60622 74%849$136,277$638,100$414 cheaper homes ($191K less) · larger · newer homes
Washington, DC 20011 73%391$110,309$723,900$379 cheaper homes ($105K less) · larger · more homeowners
Weehawken, NJ 07086 72%188$127,763$889,000$672 pricier homes ($60K more) · smaller · newer homes
Washington, DC 20009 72%393$146,664$722,500$636 cheaper homes ($106K less) · larger
Chicago, IL 60618 72%850$106,384$562,700$389 cheaper homes ($266K less) · larger · more homeowners
Tarrytown, NY 10591 71%168$104,984$681,000$564 cheaper homes ($148K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Brooklyn, NY 11205 71%189$93,887$917,400$1,061 lower income ($30K less) · pricier homes ($89K more) · larger
Jersey City, NJ 07307 70%190$83,297$582,600$567 lower income ($40K less) · cheaper homes ($246K less) · larger
White Plains, NY 10606 69%168$112,270$682,300$492 cheaper homes ($146K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Philadelphia, PA 19147 68%271$105,755$530,900$366 cheaper homes ($298K less) · more homeowners
Oakland, CA 94610 68%2,681$134,507$1,379,700$642 pricier homes ($551K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
Washington, DC 20017 67%390$106,300$702,600$370 cheaper homes ($126K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Emeryville, CA 94608 67%2,682$120,239$849,600$508 newer homes
New York, NY 10038 65%190$105,419$921,900$1,006 pricier homes ($93K more) · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Astoria, NY 11103 65%184$93,324$1,002,200$728 lower income ($30K less) · pricier homes ($174K more) · 10 min longer commute
Astoria, NY 11106 65%185$84,867$610,400$652 lower income ($39K less) · cheaper homes ($218K less) · 5 min longer commute
Brooklyn, NY 11209 65%195$93,854$872,100$655 lower income ($30K less) · pricier homes ($44K 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.