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 10075

New York: median income $155,902, home value $991,900, $1,342/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cambridge, MA 02140 78%188$135,286$1,149,800$931 pricier homes ($158K more) · younger residents
Charlestown, MA 02129 71%191$157,247$912,000$948 cheaper homes ($80K less) · older homes
Washington, DC 20007 70%205$140,996$1,292,400$727 pricier homes ($301K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Washington, DC 20008 70%203$125,212$965,100$596 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($27K less)
Boston, MA 02127 69%190$164,387$863,700$828 cheaper homes ($128K less) · larger · younger residents
Brookline, MA 02446 69%187$131,963$1,181,500$843 pricier homes ($190K more) · younger residents · more walkable
San Francisco, CA 94115 68%2,566$151,524$1,679,000$1,386 pricier homes ($687K more) · more renters
Hoboken, NJ 07030 67%3$180,579$895,100$974 cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger · younger residents
San Francisco, CA 94117 66%2,567$167,066$1,601,100$1,255 pricier homes ($609K more) · larger · younger residents
Brookline, MA 02445 64%186$139,747$1,227,000$776 pricier homes ($235K more) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Somerville, MA 02144 63%189$150,313$988,800$713 younger residents · older homes
Playa Del Rey, CA 90293 63%2,458$134,313$997,600$700 smaller · more single-family homes · newer homes
Santa Monica, CA 90403 63%2,459$121,925$1,548,900$1,021 lower income ($34K less) · pricier homes ($557K more) · more renters
San Francisco, CA 94118 63%2,568$163,995$1,784,700$1,272 pricier homes ($793K more) · larger · more walkable
Boston, MA 02114 62%190$132,210$924,400$1,148 cheaper homes ($68K less) · smaller · younger residents
Boston, MA 02116 62%189$126,496$1,562,500$1,330 lower income ($29K less) · pricier homes ($571K more) · younger residents
San Francisco, CA 94114 62%2,567$204,134$1,737,300$1,280 higher income ($48K more) · pricier homes ($745K more) · larger
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 61%186$131,551$822,300$642 cheaper homes ($170K less) · larger · older homes
Weehawken, NJ 07086 61%4$127,763$889,000$672 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($103K less) · 6 min longer commute
Boston, MA 02109 60%190$158,843$958,000$1,152 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller · younger residents
Washington, DC 20009 60%203$146,664$722,500$636 cheaper homes ($269K less) · larger · younger residents
Alexandria, VA 22314 60%209$148,451$899,000$624 cheaper homes ($93K less) · larger · more walkable
San Francisco, CA 94131 60%2,567$199,211$1,713,300$1,192 higher income ($43K more) · pricier homes ($721K more) · more single-family homes
Cambridge, MA 02139 59%188$134,586$1,087,500$965 pricier homes ($96K more) · larger · younger residents
Somerville, MA 02143 59%189$130,753$926,800$769 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($65K less) · younger 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.