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 10025

New York: median income $108,940, home value $1,106,900, $1,337/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
San Francisco, CA 94109 85%2,566$106,018$1,300,300$1,070 pricier homes ($193K more) · smaller · more renters
Boston, MA 02118 77%184$98,224$1,058,200$1,078 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
San Francisco, CA 94115 71%2,567$151,524$1,679,000$1,386 higher income ($43K more) · pricier homes ($572K more) · smaller
San Francisco, CA 94121 71%2,570$133,358$1,611,400$1,132 pricier homes ($505K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Boston, MA 02116 69%184$126,496$1,562,500$1,330 pricier homes ($456K more) · smaller · younger residents
Brookline, MA 02446 68%182$131,963$1,181,500$843 pricier homes ($75K more) · smaller · younger residents
Somerville, MA 02143 67%184$130,753$926,800$769 cheaper homes ($180K less) · smaller · younger residents
San Francisco, CA 94110 67%2,567$158,351$1,450,400$1,059 higher income ($49K more) · pricier homes ($344K more) · more single-family homes
San Francisco, CA 94117 67%2,568$167,066$1,601,100$1,255 higher income ($58K more) · pricier homes ($494K more) · smaller
San Francisco, CA 94118 67%2,568$163,995$1,784,700$1,272 higher income ($55K more) · pricier homes ($678K more) · smaller
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 66%181$131,551$822,300$642 cheaper homes ($285K less) · smaller · younger residents
Cambridge, MA 02139 66%183$134,586$1,087,500$965 higher income ($26K more) · smaller · younger residents
Cambridge, MA 02140 66%183$135,286$1,149,800$931 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller
San Francisco, CA 94122 65%2,570$146,250$1,517,700$1,144 higher income ($37K more) · pricier homes ($411K more) · smaller
Los Angeles, CA 90036 64%2,452$109,785$1,881,900$830 pricier homes ($775K more) · smaller · more renters
Somerville, MA 02144 62%184$150,313$988,800$713 higher income ($41K more) · cheaper homes ($118K less) · smaller
San Francisco, CA 94133 62%2,565$87,191$1,558,000$1,196 pricier homes ($451K more) · smaller · older residents
Charlestown, MA 02129 60%186$157,247$912,000$948 higher income ($48K more) · cheaper homes ($195K less) · smaller
Somerville, MA 02145 60%185$123,755$828,600$598 cheaper homes ($278K less) · smaller · younger residents
Washington, DC 20009 60%208$146,664$722,500$636 higher income ($38K more) · cheaper homes ($384K less) · smaller
Los Angeles, CA 90027 60%2,448$94,521$1,776,400$869 pricier homes ($670K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Los Angeles, CA 90046 60%2,452$96,250$1,515,000$841 pricier homes ($408K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Washington, DC 20002 59%207$120,337$826,400$494 cheaper homes ($281K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Santa Monica, CA 90403 59%2,461$121,925$1,548,900$1,021 pricier homes ($442K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Boston, MA 02127 58%185$164,387$863,700$828 higher income ($55K more) · cheaper homes ($243K less) · 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.