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 10005

New York: median income $190,233, home value $1,390,600, $1,144/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
San Francisco, CA 94117 78%2,567$167,066$1,601,100$1,255 pricier homes ($211K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
San Francisco, CA 94123 78%2,566$218,603$2M+*$1,423 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($609K more) · larger
Boston, MA 02109 75%191$158,843$958,000$1,152 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($433K less) · smaller
San Francisco, CA 94115 71%2,566$151,524$1,679,000$1,386 lower income ($39K less) · pricier homes ($288K more) · larger
Cambridge, MA 02139 69%189$134,586$1,087,500$965 lower income ($56K less) · cheaper homes ($303K less) · larger
Boston, MA 02116 68%189$126,496$1,562,500$1,330 lower income ($64K less) · pricier homes ($172K more) · larger
Brookline, MA 02446 66%187$131,963$1,181,500$843 lower income ($58K less) · cheaper homes ($209K less) · larger
Somerville, MA 02143 64%190$130,753$926,800$769 lower income ($59K less) · cheaper homes ($464K less) · larger
Somerville, MA 02144 63%190$150,313$988,800$713 lower income ($40K less) · cheaper homes ($402K less) · larger
Boston, MA 02114 62%190$132,210$924,400$1,148 lower income ($58K less) · cheaper homes ($466K less) · larger
Cambridge, MA 02140 62%189$135,286$1,149,800$931 lower income ($55K less) · cheaper homes ($241K less) · larger
Boston, MA 02108 61%190$212,928$1,667,600$1,406 pricier homes ($277K more) · smaller · older residents
San Francisco, CA 94118 61%2,568$163,995$1,784,700$1,272 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($394K more) · larger
Boston, MA 02113 59%191$113,314$662,000$1,091 lower income ($77K less) · cheaper homes ($729K less)
Charlestown, MA 02129 54%191$157,247$912,000$948 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($479K less) · larger
Cambridge, MA 02138 54%189$119,967$1,212,400$919 lower income ($70K less) · cheaper homes ($178K less) · larger
San Francisco, CA 94114 54%2,567$204,134$1,737,300$1,280 pricier homes ($347K more) · larger · older residents
Washington, DC 20009 53%203$146,664$722,500$636 lower income ($44K less) · cheaper homes ($668K less) · larger
Boston, MA 02127 52%190$164,387$863,700$828 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($527K less) · larger
Mountain View, CA 94041 52%2,557$178,558$2M+*$1,250 pricier homes ($609K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Brookline, MA 02445 51%186$139,747$1,227,000$776 lower income ($50K less) · cheaper homes ($164K less) · larger
Los Angeles, CA 90036 49%2,451$109,785$1,881,900$830 lower income ($80K less) · pricier homes ($491K more) · larger
Beverly Hills, CA 90212 49%2,453$118,019$2M+*$745 lower income ($72K less) · pricier homes ($609K more) · older residents
Berkeley, CA 94709 48%2,555$89,054$1,375,000$877 lower income ($101K less)
Santa Monica, CA 90403 46%2,459$121,925$1,548,900$1,021 lower income ($68K less) · pricier homes ($158K more) · 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.