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 10006

New York: median income $190,170, home value $1,090,300, $1,834/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
San Francisco, CA 94123 64%2,566$218,603$2M+*$1,423 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($910K more) · larger
Boston, MA 02109 62%191$158,843$958,000$1,152 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($132K less) · 12 min shorter commute
San Francisco, CA 94117 61%2,567$167,066$1,601,100$1,255 pricier homes ($511K more) · larger · more homeowners
San Francisco, CA 94115 55%2,566$151,524$1,679,000$1,386 lower income ($39K less) · pricier homes ($589K more) · larger
Boston, MA 02113 51%191$113,314$662,000$1,091 lower income ($77K less) · cheaper homes ($428K less) · larger
Cambridge, MA 02140 49%189$135,286$1,149,800$931 lower income ($55K less) · pricier homes ($60K more) · larger
Boston, MA 02116 48%190$126,496$1,562,500$1,330 lower income ($64K less) · pricier homes ($472K more) · larger
San Francisco, CA 94118 48%2,567$163,995$1,784,700$1,272 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($694K more) · larger
Boston, MA 02108 47%190$212,928$1,667,600$1,406 pricier homes ($577K more) · older residents · 12 min shorter commute
Somerville, MA 02143 46%190$130,753$926,800$769 lower income ($59K less) · cheaper homes ($164K less) · larger
Somerville, MA 02144 46%190$150,313$988,800$713 lower income ($40K less) · cheaper homes ($102K less) · larger
Boston, MA 02114 45%190$132,210$924,400$1,148 lower income ($58K less) · cheaper homes ($166K less) · larger
Cambridge, MA 02139 45%189$134,586$1,087,500$965 lower income ($56K less) · larger · 10 min shorter commute
Brookline, MA 02446 44%187$131,963$1,181,500$843 lower income ($58K less) · pricier homes ($91K more) · larger
Charlestown, MA 02129 42%191$157,247$912,000$948 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($178K less) · larger
San Francisco, CA 94114 42%2,566$204,134$1,737,300$1,280 pricier homes ($647K more) · larger · older residents
Boston, MA 02127 39%191$164,387$863,700$828 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($227K less) · larger
Hoboken, NJ 07030 35%3$180,579$895,100$974 cheaper homes ($195K less) · larger · more homeowners
Washington, DC 20009 35%203$146,664$722,500$636 lower income ($44K less) · cheaper homes ($368K less) · larger
Mountain View, CA 94041 34%2,557$178,558$2M+*$1,250 pricier homes ($910K more) · larger · 10 min shorter commute
Cambridge, MA 02138 33%189$119,967$1,212,400$919 lower income ($70K less) · pricier homes ($122K more) · larger
Brookline, MA 02445 33%186$139,747$1,227,000$776 lower income ($50K less) · pricier homes ($137K more) · larger
San Francisco, CA 94109 33%2,565$106,018$1,300,300$1,070 lower income ($84K less) · pricier homes ($210K more) · larger
San Francisco, CA 94111 33%2,564$152,697$1,248,900$944 lower income ($37K less) · pricier homes ($159K more) · older residents
Cambridge, MA 02141 32%190$126,522$868,100$842 lower income ($64K less) · cheaper homes ($222K 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.