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 Boston, MA 02210

Boston: median income $172,124, home value $1,190,900, $1,527/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
San Francisco, CA 94105 82%2,692$225,000$1,398,000$1,200 higher income ($53K more) · pricier homes ($207K more) · larger
San Francisco, CA 94158 79%2,692$196,506$1,429,600$1,237 pricier homes ($239K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Playa Vista, CA 90094 76%2,603$145,744$1,356,000$885 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($165K more) · larger
New York, NY 10018 74%188$145,958$1,044,800$1,183 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($146K less) · more renters
New York, NY 10069 71%187$233,636$2M+*$1,385 higher income ($62K more) · pricier homes ($809K more) · 5 min longer commute
Palo Alto, CA 94304 71%2,691$154,141$2M+*— pricier homes ($809K more) · older homes
New York, NY 10280 69%191$206,299$976,300$1,104 higher income ($34K more) · cheaper homes ($215K less) · older residents
New York, NY 10007 67%190$250,000+*$2M+*$1,655 higher income ($78K more) · pricier homes ($809K more) · older homes
San Francisco, CA 94107 67%2,693$182,897$1,222,500$1,051 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
New York, NY 10282 66%190$250,000+*$2M+*$1,209 higher income ($78K more) · pricier homes ($809K more) · more renters
Long Island City, NY 11109 63%187$204,885$525,300— higher income ($33K more) · cheaper homes ($666K less) · 9 min longer commute
Washington, DC 20003 57%393$159,846$957,700$625 cheaper homes ($233K less) · larger · more homeowners
Austin, TX 78701 57%1,694$162,168$722,400$705 cheaper homes ($469K less) · larger · older residents
Santa Monica, CA 90401 57%2,605$110,385$1,149,200$1,151 lower income ($62K less) · cheaper homes ($42K less) · more renters
Seattle, WA 98121 57%2,487$152,019$848,400$575 cheaper homes ($343K less) · larger
Seattle, WA 98109 56%2,487$133,663$1,034,100$649 lower income ($38K less) · cheaper homes ($157K less) · larger
San Jose, CA 95113 54%2,679$151,685$956,500$714 cheaper homes ($234K less) · smaller · younger residents
Santa Clara, CA 95054 52%2,681$207,895$1,493,100$922 higher income ($36K more) · pricier homes ($302K more) · larger
Seattle, WA 98101 52%2,486$128,882$784,200$657 lower income ($43K less) · cheaper homes ($407K less) · larger
Miami, FL 33131 51%1,258$144,138$655,100$622 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($536K less) · larger
Jersey City, NJ 07302 50%192$175,077$865,100$888 cheaper homes ($326K less) · larger · 13 min longer commute
Jersey City, NJ 07310 49%191$183,464$844,400$695 cheaper homes ($347K less) · larger · younger residents
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292 49%2,605$146,167$1,272,200$834 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($81K more) · larger
Bellevue, WA 98004 49%2,481$182,545$2M+*$915 pricier homes ($809K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Long Island City, NY 11101 48%186$121,062$971,300$1,596 lower income ($51K less) · cheaper homes ($220K less) · larger

* The Census Bureau doesn’t publish exact figures above $250,000 for household income, $2,000,000 for home values or $3,500 for monthly rent; it reports them as “or more.”

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.