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.

Reset

Towns most like New York, NY 10019

New York: median income $128,559, home value $1,061,300, $1,244/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Santa Monica, CA 90403 82%2,460$121,925$1,548,900$1,021 pricier homes ($488K more) · smaller · more walkable
Boston, MA 02114 78%187$132,210$924,400$1,148 cheaper homes ($137K less) · smaller · younger residents
Cambridge, MA 02140 74%185$135,286$1,149,800$931 pricier homes ($89K more) · smaller · younger residents
San Francisco, CA 94115 74%2,567$151,524$1,679,000$1,386 pricier homes ($618K more) · older homes
Cambridge, MA 02141 73%186$126,522$868,100$842 cheaper homes ($193K less) · smaller · younger residents
San Diego, CA 92109 73%2,431$122,128$1,226,900$1,117 pricier homes ($166K more) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Los Angeles, CA 90034 72%2,455$105,701$1,516,600$909 pricier homes ($455K more) · more single-family homes
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292 72%2,459$146,167$1,272,200$834 pricier homes ($211K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Los Angeles, CA 90025 71%2,457$103,894$1,079,700$699 more walkable
Los Angeles, CA 90046 69%2,451$96,250$1,515,000$841 lower income ($32K less) · pricier homes ($454K more) · more single-family homes
West Hollywood, CA 90069 69%2,452$107,987$1,074,900$814 smaller · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Seattle, WA 98102 68%2,400$114,925$963,200$617 cheaper homes ($98K less) · smaller · younger residents
Weehawken, NJ 07086 66%2$127,763$889,000$672 cheaper homes ($172K less) · smaller · 10 min longer commute
Washington, DC 20008 65%206$125,212$965,100$596 cheaper homes ($96K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Washington, DC 20005 64%206$116,724$640,600$605 cheaper homes ($421K less) · smaller
Los Angeles, CA 90036 64%2,451$109,785$1,881,900$830 pricier homes ($821K more) · more walkable · older homes
Santa Monica, CA 90405 64%2,460$121,241$1,929,900$1,153 pricier homes ($869K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Boston, MA 02118 63%186$98,224$1,058,200$1,078 lower income ($30K less) · smaller · more walkable
Arlington, VA 22209 63%209$120,515$820,000$602 cheaper homes ($241K less) · smaller · younger residents
San Francisco, CA 94109 63%2,566$106,018$1,300,300$1,070 pricier homes ($239K more) · more walkable · older homes
Hoboken, NJ 07030 62%3$180,579$895,100$974 higher income ($52K more) · cheaper homes ($166K less) · younger residents
Washington, DC 20001 61%206$138,059$852,600$552 cheaper homes ($209K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Los Angeles, CA 90048 61%2,453$103,495$1,932,000$952 lower income ($25K less) · pricier homes ($871K more) · smaller
Santa Monica, CA 90404 61%2,459$95,139$1,244,400$819 lower income ($33K less) · pricier homes ($183K more) · smaller
San Diego, CA 92103 61%2,428$102,626$1,061,200$755 lower income ($26K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners

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.