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 10280

New York: median income $206,299, home value $976,300, $1,104/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
San Francisco, CA 94105 75%2,563$225,000$1,398,000$1,200 pricier homes ($422K more) · larger · younger residents
San Francisco, CA 94107 74%2,564$182,897$1,222,500$1,051 pricier homes ($246K more) · larger · younger residents
Boston, MA 02210 69%191$172,124$1,190,900$1,527 lower income ($34K less) · pricier homes ($215K more) · younger residents
Playa Vista, CA 90094 68%2,457$145,744$1,356,000$885 lower income ($61K less) · pricier homes ($380K more) · newer homes
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292 68%2,458$146,167$1,272,200$834 lower income ($60K less) · pricier homes ($296K more) · larger
San Francisco, CA 94158 68%2,564$196,506$1,429,600$1,237 pricier homes ($453K more) · younger residents · newer homes
Austin, TX 78701 66%1,510$162,168$722,400$705 lower income ($44K less) · cheaper homes ($254K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Alexandria, VA 22314 65%208$148,451$899,000$624 lower income ($58K less) · cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger
Washington, DC 20003 64%202$159,846$957,700$625 lower income ($46K less) · larger · younger residents
San Francisco, CA 94111 63%2,564$152,697$1,248,900$944 lower income ($54K less) · pricier homes ($273K more) · smaller
Boston, MA 02109 62%191$158,843$958,000$1,152 lower income ($47K less) · smaller · younger residents
Hoboken, NJ 07030 62%3$180,579$895,100$974 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($81K less) · larger
Washington, DC 20004 62%203$184,792$689,600$528 cheaper homes ($287K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Boston, MA 02114 60%190$132,210$924,400$1,148 lower income ($74K less) · cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Cambridge, MA 02141 59%190$126,522$868,100$842 lower income ($80K less) · cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger
Jersey City, NJ 07302 58%2$175,077$865,100$888 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($111K less) · larger
Arlington, VA 22201 57%206$145,000$781,600$625 lower income ($61K less) · cheaper homes ($195K less) · larger
Mountain View, CA 94043 56%2,557$203,298$1,641,100$1,015 pricier homes ($665K more) · larger · younger residents
Palo Alto, CA 94304 56%2,561$154,141$2M+*— lower income ($52K less) · pricier homes ($1024K more) · smaller
Arlington, VA 22209 55%205$120,515$820,000$602 lower income ($86K less) · cheaper homes ($156K less) · larger
Mountain View, CA 94041 55%2,557$178,558$2M+*$1,250 lower income ($28K less) · pricier homes ($1024K more) · larger
Santa Clara, CA 95054 55%2,551$207,895$1,493,100$922 pricier homes ($517K more) · larger · younger residents
Washington, DC 20001 54%202$138,059$852,600$552 lower income ($68K less) · cheaper homes ($124K less) · larger
Arlington, VA 22203 54%208$140,135$826,800$511 lower income ($66K less) · cheaper homes ($150K less) · larger
Miami, FL 33131 54%1,092$144,138$655,100$622 lower income ($62K less) · cheaper homes ($321K less) · larger

* 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.