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 Brooklyn, NY 11205

Brooklyn: median income $93,887, home value $917,400, $1,061/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Boston, MA 02118 76%188$98,224$1,058,200$1,078 pricier homes ($141K more) · smaller · older residents
Boston, MA 02128 76%191$90,106$668,000$646 cheaper homes ($249K less)
Jersey City, NJ 07307 74%6$83,297$582,600$567 cheaper homes ($335K less) · older residents
Brighton, MA 02135 73%185$90,829$681,200$631 cheaper homes ($236K less)
Somerville, MA 02145 71%189$123,755$828,600$598 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($89K less) · smaller
Los Angeles, CA 90026 71%2,448$87,334$1,199,500$831 pricier homes ($282K more) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Dorchester, MA 02125 70%186$82,953$657,100$553 cheaper homes ($260K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
San Francisco, CA 94109 70%2,568$106,018$1,300,300$1,070 pricier homes ($383K more) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Weehawken, NJ 07086 63%6$127,763$889,000$672 higher income ($34K more) · cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Los Angeles, CA 90027 63%2,449$94,521$1,776,400$869 pricier homes ($859K more) · older residents · 8 min shorter commute
Valley Village, CA 91607 63%2,453$87,874$1,030,500$681 pricier homes ($113K more) · smaller · older residents
Jersey City, NJ 07306 62%6$74,953$516,000$478 cheaper homes ($401K less) · newer homes
Los Angeles, CA 90046 61%2,453$96,250$1,515,000$841 pricier homes ($598K more) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Somerville, MA 02143 60%189$130,753$926,800$769 higher income ($37K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Washington, DC 20002 60%203$120,337$826,400$494 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($91K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Washington, DC 20010 60%203$114,126$886,600$471 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Los Angeles, CA 90019 60%2,453$73,934$1,273,700$619 pricier homes ($356K more) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Long Beach, CA 90802 60%2,452$74,510$542,600$555 cheaper homes ($375K less) · newer homes
Allston, MA 02134 59%186$78,679$657,300$616 cheaper homes ($260K less) · smaller · more renters
Malden, MA 02148 59%192$100,606$633,500$451 cheaper homes ($284K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Cambridge, MA 02140 58%188$135,286$1,149,800$931 higher income ($41K more) · pricier homes ($232K more) · smaller
Alexandria, VA 22305 58%209$113,537$864,500$521 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller · 10 min shorter commute
Los Angeles, CA 90004 58%2,450$64,826$1,552,100$741 lower income ($29K less) · pricier homes ($635K more) · older residents
Los Angeles, CA 90034 58%2,457$105,701$1,516,600$909 pricier homes ($599K more) · 11 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Jersey City, NJ 07304 57%6$70,986$537,200$429 cheaper homes ($380K less)

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.