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 11105

Astoria: median income $102,012, home value $1,081,200, $725/sq ft, 40-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Somerville, MA 02145 78%183$123,755$828,600$598 cheaper homes ($253K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Boston, MA 02128 73%185$90,106$668,000$646 cheaper homes ($413K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Weehawken, NJ 07086 73%6$127,763$889,000$672 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($192K less) · smaller
Jersey City, NJ 07307 73%8$83,297$582,600$567 cheaper homes ($499K less)
San Francisco, CA 94109 73%2,569$106,018$1,300,300$1,070 pricier homes ($219K more) · 10 min shorter commute
Los Angeles, CA 90026 71%2,451$87,334$1,199,500$831 pricier homes ($118K more) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Boston, MA 02118 69%182$98,224$1,058,200$1,078 13 min shorter commute
Dorchester, MA 02125 68%180$82,953$657,100$553 cheaper homes ($424K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Brighton, MA 02135 68%179$90,829$681,200$631 cheaper homes ($400K less) · younger residents · 8 min shorter commute
Washington, DC 20010 67%209$114,126$886,600$471 cheaper homes ($195K less) · 10 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Los Angeles, CA 90027 65%2,451$94,521$1,776,400$869 pricier homes ($695K more) · 11 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Washington, DC 20002 64%208$120,337$826,400$494 cheaper homes ($255K less) · larger · 10 min shorter commute
Oakland, CA 94609 64%2,560$107,834$1,207,700$653 pricier homes ($127K more) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Malden, MA 02148 63%186$100,606$633,500$451 cheaper homes ($448K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Los Angeles, CA 90019 63%2,455$73,934$1,273,700$619 lower income ($28K less) · pricier homes ($193K more) · larger
Somerville, MA 02143 62%183$130,753$926,800$769 higher income ($29K more) · cheaper homes ($154K less) · 10 min shorter commute
Jersey City, NJ 07306 62%9$74,953$516,000$478 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($565K less) · newer homes
Los Angeles, CA 90036 62%2,455$109,785$1,881,900$830 pricier homes ($801K more) · 11 min shorter commute
Los Angeles, CA 90046 62%2,455$96,250$1,515,000$841 pricier homes ($434K more) · 11 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Valley Village, CA 91607 62%2,455$87,874$1,030,500$681 cheaper homes ($51K less) · 9 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Dorchester, MA 02122 61%180$86,150$669,900$471 cheaper homes ($411K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 61%179$131,551$822,300$642 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($259K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Somerville, MA 02144 60%183$150,313$988,800$713 higher income ($48K more) · cheaper homes ($92K less) · younger residents
Alexandria, VA 22305 60%214$113,537$864,500$521 cheaper homes ($217K less) · smaller · 13 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60647 60%719$107,060$586,200$403 cheaper homes ($495K less) · larger · 7 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.