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 10065

New York: median income $155,331, home value $1,419,800, $1,371/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
San Francisco, CA 94115 81%2,568$151,524$1,679,000$1,386 pricier homes ($259K more) · more walkable
Cambridge, MA 02140 76%185$135,286$1,149,800$931 cheaper homes ($270K less) · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Santa Monica, CA 90403 75%2,461$121,925$1,548,900$1,021 lower income ($33K less) · pricier homes ($129K more) · more walkable
San Francisco, CA 94117 74%2,568$167,066$1,601,100$1,255 pricier homes ($181K more) · more walkable · older homes
Boston, MA 02116 73%185$126,496$1,562,500$1,330 lower income ($29K less) · pricier homes ($143K more) · younger residents
Brookline, MA 02446 71%183$131,963$1,181,500$843 cheaper homes ($238K less) · younger residents · more walkable
Boston, MA 02114 69%186$132,210$924,400$1,148 cheaper homes ($495K less) · smaller · younger residents
Washington, DC 20007 68%209$140,996$1,292,400$727 cheaper homes ($127K less) · more homeowners
San Francisco, CA 94118 68%2,569$163,995$1,784,700$1,272 pricier homes ($365K more) · 7 min longer commute · more walkable
Washington, DC 20008 67%207$125,212$965,100$596 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($455K less)
Mountain View, CA 94040 67%2,560$187,781$2M+*$1,570 higher income ($32K more) · pricier homes ($580K more) · more single-family homes
Cambridge, MA 02139 65%185$134,586$1,087,500$965 cheaper homes ($332K less) · younger residents · more walkable
Santa Monica, CA 90405 64%2,461$121,241$1,929,900$1,153 lower income ($34K less) · pricier homes ($510K more) · more single-family homes
Mountain View, CA 94041 64%2,559$178,558$2M+*$1,250 pricier homes ($580K more) · smaller · younger residents
San Francisco, CA 94114 64%2,568$204,134$1,737,300$1,280 higher income ($49K more) · pricier homes ($318K more) · 7 min longer commute
Charlestown, MA 02129 62%187$157,247$912,000$948 cheaper homes ($508K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Boston, MA 02127 61%186$164,387$863,700$828 cheaper homes ($556K less) · younger residents
Brookline, MA 02445 61%182$139,747$1,227,000$776 cheaper homes ($193K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
San Diego, CA 92109 61%2,432$122,128$1,226,900$1,117 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($193K less) · younger residents
Mountain View, CA 94043 61%2,558$203,298$1,641,100$1,015 higher income ($48K more) · pricier homes ($221K more) · more single-family homes
Boston, MA 02109 60%186$158,843$958,000$1,152 cheaper homes ($462K less) · smaller · younger residents
West Hollywood, CA 90069 60%2,454$107,987$1,074,900$814 lower income ($47K less) · cheaper homes ($345K less) · more single-family homes
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292 60%2,461$146,167$1,272,200$834 cheaper homes ($148K less) · 7 min longer commute · more walkable
San Francisco, CA 94131 60%2,569$199,211$1,713,300$1,192 higher income ($44K more) · pricier homes ($294K more) · 5 min longer commute
Oakland, CA 94610 60%2,557$134,507$1,379,700$642 cheaper homes ($40K less) · 6 min longer commute · more single-family homes

* The Census Bureau doesn’t publish exact figures above $250,000 for household income, $2,000,000 for home values or $3,500 for monthly rent; it reports them as “or more.”

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.