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 10016

New York: median income $140,381, home value $905,000, $1,232/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Boston, MA 02114 83%187$132,210$924,400$1,148 smaller
Cambridge, MA 02141 78%187$126,522$868,100$842 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · newer homes
Cambridge, MA 02140 77%186$135,286$1,149,800$931 pricier homes ($245K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
San Diego, CA 92109 74%2,431$122,128$1,226,900$1,117 pricier homes ($322K more) · more single-family homes
San Francisco, CA 94115 72%2,567$151,524$1,679,000$1,386 pricier homes ($774K more) · smaller · older homes
Hoboken, NJ 07030 71%3$180,579$895,100$974 higher income ($40K more) · 11 min longer commute
Santa Monica, CA 90403 71%2,461$121,925$1,548,900$1,021 pricier homes ($644K more) · smaller · older residents
Seattle, WA 98102 71%2,402$114,925$963,200$617 lower income ($25K less) · pricier homes ($58K more) · smaller
Los Angeles, CA 90025 70%2,458$103,894$1,079,700$699 lower income ($36K less) · pricier homes ($175K more) · more walkable
Cambridge, MA 02139 68%186$134,586$1,087,500$965 pricier homes ($183K more) · older homes
Washington, DC 20001 68%205$138,059$852,600$552 cheaper homes ($52K less) · newer homes
Washington, DC 20005 68%206$116,724$640,600$605 cheaper homes ($264K less) · smaller
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292 68%2,460$146,167$1,272,200$834 pricier homes ($367K more) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Arlington, VA 22209 67%208$120,515$820,000$602 cheaper homes ($85K less) · smaller · newer homes
Los Angeles, CA 90034 67%2,456$105,701$1,516,600$909 lower income ($35K less) · pricier homes ($612K more) · more single-family homes
Washington, DC 20008 66%206$125,212$965,100$596 pricier homes ($60K more) · smaller · older homes
Boston, MA 02127 65%188$164,387$863,700$828 cheaper homes ($41K less) · more homeowners · older homes
Arlington, VA 22201 65%209$145,000$781,600$625 cheaper homes ($123K less) · newer homes
Somerville, MA 02143 64%187$130,753$926,800$769 smaller · older homes
Brookline, MA 02446 64%184$131,963$1,181,500$843 pricier homes ($277K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Weehawken, NJ 07086 64%3$127,763$889,000$672 smaller · 11 min longer commute
West Hollywood, CA 90069 64%2,453$107,987$1,074,900$814 lower income ($32K less) · pricier homes ($170K more) · smaller
Boston, MA 02116 62%187$126,496$1,562,500$1,330 pricier homes ($658K more) · smaller · more walkable
Washington, DC 20009 62%205$146,664$722,500$636 cheaper homes ($183K less) · older homes
Irvine, CA 92612 62%2,436$106,226$993,800$750 lower income ($34K less) · pricier homes ($89K 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.