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 11103

Astoria: median income $93,324, home value $1,002,200, $728/sq ft, 42-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Boston, MA 02128 70%186$90,106$668,000$646 cheaper homes ($334K less) · 10 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Jersey City, NJ 07307 69%7$83,297$582,600$567 cheaper homes ($420K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Los Angeles, CA 90026 66%2,451$87,334$1,199,500$831 pricier homes ($197K more) · larger · 11 min shorter commute
San Francisco, CA 94109 66%2,569$106,018$1,300,300$1,070 pricier homes ($298K more) · larger · 13 min shorter commute
Somerville, MA 02145 65%184$123,755$828,600$598 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($174K less) · 10 min shorter commute
Dorchester, MA 02125 63%181$82,953$657,100$553 cheaper homes ($345K less) · 12 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Brighton, MA 02135 63%180$90,829$681,200$631 cheaper homes ($321K less) · younger residents · 10 min shorter commute
Jersey City, NJ 07306 63%8$74,953$516,000$478 cheaper homes ($486K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Los Angeles, CA 90029 62%2,452$60,440$1,124,400$750 lower income ($33K less) · pricier homes ($122K more) · newer homes
Weehawken, NJ 07086 61%6$127,763$889,000$672 higher income ($34K more) · cheaper homes ($113K less) · smaller
Los Angeles, CA 90019 61%2,455$73,934$1,273,700$619 pricier homes ($272K more) · larger · 11 min shorter commute
Allston, MA 02134 60%181$78,679$657,300$616 cheaper homes ($345K less) · smaller · younger residents
Jersey City, NJ 07304 60%9$70,986$537,200$429 cheaper homes ($465K less) · newer homes
Boston, MA 02118 58%183$98,224$1,058,200$1,078 pricier homes ($56K more) · 16 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Los Angeles, CA 90027 57%2,451$94,521$1,776,400$869 pricier homes ($774K more) · 13 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
San Francisco, CA 94133 57%2,569$87,191$1,558,000$1,196 pricier homes ($556K more) · older residents · 13 min shorter commute
Los Angeles, CA 90004 56%2,453$64,826$1,552,100$741 lower income ($28K less) · pricier homes ($550K more) · larger
Los Angeles, CA 90038 55%2,453$61,454$1,177,100$664 lower income ($32K less) · pricier homes ($175K more) · 10 min shorter commute
Long Beach, CA 90802 55%2,455$74,510$542,600$555 cheaper homes ($460K less) · 10 min shorter commute · newer homes
Dorchester, MA 02122 54%181$86,150$669,900$471 cheaper homes ($332K less) · 9 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Malden, MA 02148 54%187$100,606$633,500$451 cheaper homes ($369K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Washington, DC 20010 54%208$114,126$886,600$471 cheaper homes ($116K less) · 13 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Los Angeles, CA 90036 54%2,455$109,785$1,881,900$830 pricier homes ($880K more) · 14 min shorter commute
Valley Village, CA 91607 54%2,455$87,874$1,030,500$681 pricier homes ($28K more) · 12 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Oakland, CA 94606 54%2,560$72,470$802,700$494 cheaper homes ($200K less) · 13 min shorter commute · more single-family homes

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.