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 Brooklyn, NY 11237

Brooklyn: median income $85,196, home value $1,084,600, $663/sq ft, 40-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Boston, MA 02128 73%189$90,106$668,000$646 cheaper homes ($417K less) · 8 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Los Angeles, CA 90029 69%2,452$60,440$1,124,400$750 pricier homes ($40K more) · newer homes
Los Angeles, CA 90019 67%2,455$73,934$1,273,700$619 pricier homes ($189K more) · older residents · 9 min shorter commute
Dorchester, MA 02125 64%184$82,953$657,100$553 cheaper homes ($428K less) · 10 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Jersey City, NJ 07307 64%8$83,297$582,600$567 cheaper homes ($502K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Los Angeles, CA 90026 64%2,451$87,334$1,199,500$831 pricier homes ($115K more) · 9 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Jersey City, NJ 07304 62%8$70,986$537,200$429 cheaper homes ($547K less) · newer homes
Los Angeles, CA 90004 62%2,453$64,826$1,552,100$741 pricier homes ($468K more) · 9 min shorter commute · newer homes
Los Angeles, CA 90038 61%2,453$61,454$1,177,100$664 pricier homes ($93K more) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Jersey City, NJ 07306 60%8$74,953$516,000$478 cheaper homes ($569K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
San Francisco, CA 94109 59%2,570$106,018$1,300,300$1,070 pricier homes ($216K more) · older residents · 11 min shorter commute
Oakland, CA 94606 59%2,561$72,470$802,700$494 cheaper homes ($282K less) · 11 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
San Francisco, CA 94102 58%2,570$60,431$935,900$963 cheaper homes ($149K less) · older residents · 12 min shorter commute
Somerville, MA 02145 57%187$123,755$828,600$598 higher income ($39K more) · cheaper homes ($256K less) · smaller
Brighton, MA 02135 55%183$90,829$681,200$631 cheaper homes ($403K less) · 8 min shorter commute · newer homes
Long Beach, CA 90802 55%2,455$74,510$542,600$555 cheaper homes ($542K less) · 8 min shorter commute · newer homes
Glendale, CA 91205 55%2,448$64,564$800,800$615 cheaper homes ($284K less) · older residents · 11 min shorter commute
Dorchester Center, MA 02124 54%184$81,923$650,700$418 cheaper homes ($434K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Allston, MA 02134 54%184$78,679$657,300$616 cheaper homes ($427K less) · smaller · younger residents
Los Angeles, CA 90020 54%2,453$61,184$847,700$599 cheaper homes ($237K less) · 9 min shorter commute · newer homes
Dorchester, MA 02122 53%184$86,150$669,900$471 cheaper homes ($415K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Los Angeles, CA 90027 53%2,451$94,521$1,776,400$869 pricier homes ($692K more) · 12 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Los Angeles, CA 90016 52%2,457$73,516$968,900$687 cheaper homes ($116K less) · 8 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Los Angeles, CA 90028 52%2,453$61,349$1,043,100$675 cheaper homes ($42K less) · 12 min shorter commute · more walkable
San Francisco, CA 94133 51%2,569$87,191$1,558,000$1,196 pricier homes ($473K more) · smaller · older residents

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.