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 10009

New York: median income $92,876, home value $712,700, $1,358/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
San Francisco, CA 94109 79%2,566$106,018$1,300,300$1,070 pricier homes ($588K more)
Boston, MA 02118 71%187$98,224$1,058,200$1,078 pricier homes ($346K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Brighton, MA 02135 67%184$90,829$681,200$631 cheaper homes ($32K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Allston, MA 02134 61%185$78,679$657,300$616 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller · younger residents
San Francisco, CA 94133 61%2,566$87,191$1,558,000$1,196 pricier homes ($845K more) · smaller · older residents
Los Angeles, CA 90026 60%2,447$87,334$1,199,500$831 pricier homes ($487K more) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
San Francisco, CA 94102 59%2,567$60,431$935,900$963 lower income ($32K less) · pricier homes ($223K more) · smaller
Boston, MA 02128 57%190$90,106$668,000$646 cheaper homes ($45K less) · more homeowners
Los Angeles, CA 90027 57%2,448$94,521$1,776,400$869 pricier homes ($1064K more) · more single-family homes
Los Angeles, CA 90036 57%2,452$109,785$1,881,900$830 pricier homes ($1169K more) · smaller
Los Angeles, CA 90046 57%2,452$96,250$1,515,000$841 pricier homes ($802K more) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Somerville, MA 02143 55%188$130,753$926,800$769 higher income ($38K more) · pricier homes ($214K more) · smaller
Los Angeles, CA 90034 54%2,456$105,701$1,516,600$909 pricier homes ($804K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Somerville, MA 02145 53%188$123,755$828,600$598 higher income ($31K more) · pricier homes ($116K more) · smaller
Jersey City, NJ 07307 53%4$83,297$582,600$567 cheaper homes ($130K less) · more homeowners
San Francisco, CA 94108 53%2,566$65,388$1,134,100$1,184 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($421K more) · smaller
Weehawken, NJ 07086 52%4$127,763$889,000$672 higher income ($35K more) · pricier homes ($176K more) · smaller
Los Angeles, CA 90028 52%2,450$61,349$1,043,100$675 lower income ($32K less) · pricier homes ($330K more) · smaller
Long Beach, CA 90802 52%2,452$74,510$542,600$555 cheaper homes ($170K less) · newer homes
Pasadena, CA 91101 52%2,439$87,813$682,300$636 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Boston, MA 02113 51%189$113,314$662,000$1,091 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller · younger residents
Dorchester, MA 02125 51%185$82,953$657,100$553 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Jersey City, NJ 07306 51%5$74,953$516,000$478 cheaper homes ($197K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Cambridge, MA 02140 50%187$135,286$1,149,800$931 higher income ($42K more) · pricier homes ($437K more) · smaller
Cambridge, MA 02139 49%187$134,586$1,087,500$965 higher income ($42K more) · pricier homes ($375K 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.