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 11218

Brooklyn: median income $97,366, home value $935,900, $846/sq ft, 40-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Jersey City, NJ 07307 78%8$83,297$582,600$567 cheaper homes ($353K less) · smaller
Boston, MA 02128 75%194$90,106$668,000$646 cheaper homes ($268K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Somerville, MA 02145 74%192$123,755$828,600$598 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($107K less) · smaller
Dorchester, MA 02125 71%189$82,953$657,100$553 cheaper homes ($279K less) · smaller · 10 min shorter commute
Malden, MA 02148 70%195$100,606$633,500$451 cheaper homes ($302K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Los Angeles, CA 90026 69%2,448$87,334$1,199,500$831 pricier homes ($264K more) · 9 min shorter commute · more renters
Dorchester, MA 02122 68%189$86,150$669,900$471 cheaper homes ($266K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Boston, MA 02118 65%190$98,224$1,058,200$1,078 pricier homes ($122K more) · smaller · 14 min shorter commute
Dorchester Center, MA 02124 63%189$81,923$650,700$418 cheaper homes ($285K less)
Washington, DC 20010 63%201$114,126$886,600$471 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller · 11 min shorter commute
Washington, DC 20011 63%199$110,309$723,900$379 cheaper homes ($212K less) · 8 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Chicago, IL 60647 63%717$107,060$586,200$403 cheaper homes ($350K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Los Angeles, CA 90019 62%2,452$73,934$1,273,700$619 pricier homes ($338K more) · 9 min shorter commute · more renters
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 61%188$131,551$822,300$642 higher income ($34K more) · cheaper homes ($114K less) · smaller
San Francisco, CA 94109 61%2,568$106,018$1,300,300$1,070 pricier homes ($364K more) · 11 min shorter commute · more renters
Weehawken, NJ 07086 60%9$127,763$889,000$672 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller
Washington, DC 20002 60%200$120,337$826,400$494 cheaper homes ($110K less) · 11 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60618 60%718$106,384$562,700$389 cheaper homes ($373K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Brighton, MA 02135 59%188$90,829$681,200$631 cheaper homes ($255K less) · smaller · younger residents
Quincy, MA 02169 59%190$96,290$581,600$460 cheaper homes ($354K less) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Jersey City, NJ 07306 59%8$74,953$516,000$478 cheaper homes ($420K less) · more renters · newer homes
Los Angeles, CA 90016 59%2,454$73,516$968,900$687 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Oakland, CA 94609 59%2,559$107,834$1,207,700$653 pricier homes ($272K more) · smaller · 10 min shorter commute
Valley Village, CA 91607 58%2,452$87,874$1,030,500$681 pricier homes ($95K more) · smaller · 10 min shorter commute
Roslindale, MA 02131 57%186$111,006$664,700$517 cheaper homes ($271K less) · smaller · 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.