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 Brookline, MA 02446

Brookline: median income $131,963, home value $1,181,500, $843/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Washington, DC 20009 86%390$146,664$722,500$636 cheaper homes ($459K less) · larger
Washington, DC 20008 83%390$125,212$965,100$596 cheaper homes ($216K less) · newer homes
Washington, DC 20007 82%392$140,996$1,292,400$727 pricier homes ($111K more) · more homeowners
San Francisco, CA 94117 81%2,691$167,066$1,601,100$1,255 higher income ($35K more) · pricier homes ($420K more)
San Francisco, CA 94115 75%2,690$151,524$1,679,000$1,386 pricier homes ($498K more) · more renters
New York, NY 10003 74%185$154,262$1,123,200$1,776 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger
Washington, DC 20002 73%389$120,337$826,400$494 cheaper homes ($355K less) · larger · newer homes
San Francisco, CA 94118 73%2,692$163,995$1,784,700$1,272 higher income ($32K more) · pricier homes ($603K more) · 6 min longer commute
Brooklyn, NY 11201 72%187$173,136$1,110,700$1,355 higher income ($41K more) · cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger
Washington, DC 20010 72%389$114,126$886,600$471 cheaper homes ($295K less)
New York, NY 10065 71%183$155,331$1,419,800$1,371 pricier homes ($238K more) · older residents · less walkable
Oakland, CA 94610 71%2,680$134,507$1,379,700$642 pricier homes ($198K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
Berkeley, CA 94709 71%2,679$89,054$1,375,000$877 lower income ($43K less) · pricier homes ($194K more) · smaller
Brooklyn, NY 11217 70%187$162,863$1,636,500$1,385 higher income ($31K more) · pricier homes ($455K more) · 7 min longer commute
New York, NY 10075 69%187$155,902$991,900$1,342 cheaper homes ($190K less) · older residents · less walkable
San Francisco, CA 94110 69%2,690$158,351$1,450,400$1,059 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($269K more) · larger
Berkeley, CA 94703 69%2,680$109,881$1,359,000$913 pricier homes ($178K more) · more single-family homes
New York, NY 10011 68%185$145,987$1,181,200$1,881 larger · older residents · less walkable
New York, NY 10025 68%182$108,940$1,106,900$1,337 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger · older residents
New York, NY 10010 67%185$144,969$1,036,200$1,985 cheaper homes ($145K less) · newer homes
Brooklyn, NY 11231 67%188$139,930$1,611,200$1,376 pricier homes ($430K more) · 8 min longer commute
Brooklyn, NY 11238 67%187$134,523$1,099,700$1,306 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger · 11 min longer commute
Oakland, CA 94609 67%2,680$107,834$1,207,700$653 pricier homes ($26K more) · more single-family homes
New York, NY 10005 66%187$190,233$1,390,600$1,144 higher income ($58K more) · pricier homes ($209K more) · smaller
New York, NY 10128 66%182$147,772$1,442,000$1,157 pricier homes ($261K more) · larger · older residents

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.