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 10038

New York: median income $105,419, home value $921,900, $1,006/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Boston, MA 02118 87%189$98,224$1,058,200$1,078 pricier homes ($136K more) · older homes
Cambridge, MA 02141 84%189$126,522$868,100$842 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller · newer homes
Los Angeles, CA 90025 83%2,457$103,894$1,079,700$699 pricier homes ($158K more) · larger
Boston, MA 02111 81%190$87,404$1,033,500$1,037 pricier homes ($112K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Seattle, WA 98102 80%2,402$114,925$963,200$617 pricier homes ($41K more)
Los Angeles, CA 90034 78%2,455$105,701$1,516,600$909 pricier homes ($595K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Alexandria, VA 22305 77%208$113,537$864,500$521 cheaper homes ($57K less) · more single-family homes
West Hollywood, CA 90069 77%2,452$107,987$1,074,900$814 pricier homes ($153K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
Santa Monica, CA 90404 77%2,459$95,139$1,244,400$819 pricier homes ($323K more) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Washington, DC 20005 76%203$116,724$640,600$605 cheaper homes ($281K less) · smaller
North Hollywood, CA 91602 76%2,449$102,914$1,055,900$636 pricier homes ($134K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
San Diego, CA 92109 76%2,430$122,128$1,226,900$1,117 pricier homes ($305K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Irvine, CA 92612 76%2,435$106,226$993,800$750 pricier homes ($72K more) · larger · newer homes
Cambridge, MA 02140 75%188$135,286$1,149,800$931 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($228K more) · 6 min longer commute
Pasadena, CA 91101 75%2,438$87,813$682,300$636 cheaper homes ($240K less) · more renters · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98119 75%2,403$123,551$1,047,600$594 pricier homes ($126K more) · more single-family homes
San Diego, CA 92116 74%2,425$98,154$940,700$925 more single-family homes
Boston, MA 02114 73%190$132,210$924,400$1,148 higher income ($27K more) · smaller
Brighton, MA 02135 73%186$90,829$681,200$631 cheaper homes ($241K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Pasadena, CA 91106 73%2,437$90,028$1,040,400$734 pricier homes ($119K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
San Diego, CA 92103 73%2,427$102,626$1,061,200$755 pricier homes ($139K more) · larger · older residents
Weehawken, NJ 07086 72%4$127,763$889,000$672 cheaper homes ($33K less) · 11 min longer commute
San Diego, CA 92104 72%2,425$94,014$914,700$761 larger · more single-family homes
Emeryville, CA 94608 72%2,557$120,239$849,600$508 cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Los Angeles, CA 90046 71%2,451$96,250$1,515,000$841 pricier homes ($593K more) · larger · older residents

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.