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 Astoria, NY 11102

Astoria: median income $96,617, home value $719,200, $1,126/sq ft, 41-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Weehawken, NJ 07086 67%5$127,763$889,000$672 higher income ($31K more) · pricier homes ($170K more) · smaller
Brighton, MA 02135 66%180$90,829$681,200$631 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · younger residents
Jersey City, NJ 07307 62%7$83,297$582,600$567 cheaper homes ($137K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
San Francisco, CA 94109 62%2,569$106,018$1,300,300$1,070 pricier homes ($581K more) · larger · 12 min shorter commute
Jersey City, NJ 07306 61%8$74,953$516,000$478 cheaper homes ($203K less) · larger
Allston, MA 02134 59%181$78,679$657,300$616 cheaper homes ($62K less) · smaller · younger residents
Boston, MA 02118 58%183$98,224$1,058,200$1,078 pricier homes ($339K more) · 15 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Long Beach, CA 90802 58%2,454$74,510$542,600$555 cheaper homes ($177K less) · 9 min shorter commute · newer homes
Boston, MA 02128 57%186$90,106$668,000$646 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Somerville, MA 02145 55%184$123,755$828,600$598 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($109K more) · 9 min shorter commute
Los Angeles, CA 90026 55%2,450$87,334$1,199,500$831 pricier homes ($480K more) · larger · 10 min shorter commute
Los Angeles, CA 90029 53%2,451$60,440$1,124,400$750 lower income ($36K less) · pricier homes ($405K more)
Los Angeles, CA 90046 53%2,454$96,250$1,515,000$841 pricier homes ($796K more) · larger · 12 min shorter commute
Valley Village, CA 91607 53%2,454$87,874$1,030,500$681 pricier homes ($311K more) · 11 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Jersey City, NJ 07304 52%9$70,986$537,200$429 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($182K less) · larger
Dorchester, MA 02125 51%181$82,953$657,100$553 cheaper homes ($62K less) · 11 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Los Angeles, CA 90020 51%2,452$61,184$847,700$599 lower income ($35K less) · pricier homes ($129K more) · 10 min shorter commute
Los Angeles, CA 90027 51%2,451$94,521$1,776,400$869 pricier homes ($1057K more) · larger · 13 min shorter commute
North Hollywood, CA 91601 51%2,453$79,607$1,000,000$637 pricier homes ($281K more) · 12 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
San Francisco, CA 94133 51%2,568$87,191$1,558,000$1,196 pricier homes ($839K more) · older residents · 12 min shorter commute
Cambridge, MA 02140 50%183$135,286$1,149,800$931 higher income ($39K more) · pricier homes ($431K more) · 9 min shorter commute
Somerville, MA 02143 49%184$130,753$926,800$769 higher income ($34K more) · pricier homes ($208K more) · younger residents
Oakland, CA 94612 49%2,560$74,037$827,800$439 pricier homes ($109K more) · smaller · 10 min shorter commute
Los Angeles, CA 90036 48%2,454$109,785$1,881,900$830 pricier homes ($1163K more) · 13 min shorter commute
Los Angeles, CA 90038 48%2,452$61,454$1,177,100$664 lower income ($35K less) · pricier homes ($458K more) · 9 min shorter commute

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.