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 New York, NY 10001

New York: median income $129,852, home value $561,100, $1,736/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Boston, MA 02114 71%188$132,210$924,400$1,148 pricier homes ($363K more) · smaller · more walkable
Cambridge, MA 02141 68%188$126,522$868,100$842 pricier homes ($307K more) · smaller · more walkable
Washington, DC 20005 60%205$116,724$640,600$605 pricier homes ($80K more) · smaller
San Diego, CA 92109 59%2,430$122,128$1,226,900$1,117 pricier homes ($666K more) · more single-family homes
Cambridge, MA 02140 57%187$135,286$1,149,800$931 pricier homes ($589K more) · 6 min longer commute · older homes
Santa Cruz, CA 95064 57%2,566$121,042$467,000— cheaper homes ($94K less) · smaller · younger residents
Boston, MA 02118 54%187$98,224$1,058,200$1,078 lower income ($32K less) · pricier homes ($497K more) · more walkable
Weehawken, NJ 07086 54%2$127,763$889,000$672 pricier homes ($328K more) · smaller · 11 min longer commute
Arlington, VA 22209 54%208$120,515$820,000$602 pricier homes ($259K more) · smaller · newer homes
Hoboken, NJ 07030 53%2$180,579$895,100$974 higher income ($51K more) · pricier homes ($334K more) · larger
Los Angeles, CA 90025 53%2,457$103,894$1,079,700$699 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($519K more) · larger
West Hollywood, CA 90069 53%2,452$107,987$1,074,900$814 pricier homes ($514K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Santa Monica, CA 90403 53%2,460$121,925$1,548,900$1,021 pricier homes ($988K more) · older residents · more walkable
Irvine, CA 92612 53%2,435$106,226$993,800$750 pricier homes ($433K more) · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98102 53%2,401$114,925$963,200$617 pricier homes ($402K more) · more walkable
Boston, MA 02113 51%189$113,314$662,000$1,091 pricier homes ($101K more) · smaller · younger residents
Boston, MA 02127 51%188$164,387$863,700$828 higher income ($35K more) · pricier homes ($303K more) · more homeowners
Brighton, MA 02135 51%184$90,829$681,200$631 lower income ($39K less) · pricier homes ($120K more) · younger residents
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292 51%2,459$146,167$1,272,200$834 pricier homes ($711K more) · 7 min longer commute · more walkable
Irvine, CA 92614 51%2,435$122,821$1,076,700$822 pricier homes ($516K more) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
San Francisco, CA 94115 51%2,566$151,524$1,679,000$1,386 pricier homes ($1118K more) · older homes
Washington, DC 20001 50%204$138,059$852,600$552 pricier homes ($292K more) · more walkable · newer homes
Washington, DC 20037 50%206$111,153$685,300$639 pricier homes ($124K more) · smaller · younger residents
San Diego, CA 92116 50%2,425$98,154$940,700$925 lower income ($32K less) · pricier homes ($380K more) · more single-family homes
Boston, MA 02109 49%189$158,843$958,000$1,152 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($397K more) · smaller

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.