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 10027

New York: median income $59,587, home value $899,600, $1,112/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
San Francisco, CA 94102 82%2,567$60,431$935,900$963 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller · older residents
Los Angeles, CA 90004 72%2,450$64,826$1,552,100$741 pricier homes ($653K more) · newer homes
Los Angeles, CA 90028 71%2,451$61,349$1,043,100$675 pricier homes ($144K more) · smaller · more renters
Los Angeles, CA 90029 70%2,449$60,440$1,124,400$750 pricier homes ($225K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Los Angeles, CA 90038 70%2,451$61,454$1,177,100$664 pricier homes ($278K more) · smaller · newer homes
Los Angeles, CA 90005 68%2,451$49,419$975,200$551 pricier homes ($76K more) · smaller · newer homes
Los Angeles, CA 90020 68%2,450$61,184$847,700$599 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller · newer homes
Glendale, CA 91205 67%2,445$64,564$800,800$615 cheaper homes ($99K less) · smaller · older residents
Los Angeles, CA 90019 65%2,453$73,934$1,273,700$619 pricier homes ($374K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
Los Angeles, CA 90026 65%2,448$87,334$1,199,500$831 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($300K more) · more single-family homes
San Francisco, CA 94108 65%2,566$65,388$1,134,100$1,184 pricier homes ($235K more) · smaller · older residents
Boston, MA 02115 64%182$54,991$945,100$1,195 pricier homes ($46K more) · smaller · younger residents
Boston, MA 02128 63%186$90,106$668,000$646 higher income ($31K more) · cheaper homes ($232K less)
Boston, MA 02118 62%182$98,224$1,058,200$1,078 higher income ($39K more) · pricier homes ($159K more) · smaller
Dorchester, MA 02125 62%181$82,953$657,100$553 cheaper homes ($243K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Oakland, CA 94606 61%2,557$72,470$802,700$494 cheaper homes ($97K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Jersey City, NJ 07307 59%7$83,297$582,600$567 cheaper homes ($317K less) · more homeowners
Long Beach, CA 90802 59%2,453$74,510$542,600$555 cheaper homes ($357K less) · smaller · newer homes
San Francisco, CA 94109 59%2,567$106,018$1,300,300$1,070 higher income ($46K more) · pricier homes ($401K more) · older residents
San Francisco, CA 94133 58%2,566$87,191$1,558,000$1,196 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($658K more) · smaller
Allston, MA 02134 57%181$78,679$657,300$616 cheaper homes ($242K less) · smaller · younger residents
Brighton, MA 02135 57%179$90,829$681,200$631 higher income ($31K more) · cheaper homes ($218K less)
Portland, ME 04101 57%273$63,880$617,600$568 cheaper homes ($282K less) · smaller · 12 min shorter commute
Jersey City, NJ 07306 57%8$74,953$516,000$478 cheaper homes ($384K less) · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Los Angeles, CA 90006 55%2,450$51,998$902,900$537 Very close on everything we compare

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.