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 11238

Brooklyn: median income $134,523, home value $1,099,700, $1,306/sq ft, 38-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
San Francisco, CA 94117 77%2,570$167,066$1,601,100$1,255 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($501K more) · smaller
San Francisco, CA 94115 75%2,569$151,524$1,679,000$1,386 pricier homes ($579K more) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Cambridge, MA 02140 74%188$135,286$1,149,800$931 pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
San Francisco, CA 94118 74%2,570$163,995$1,784,700$1,272 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($685K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Somerville, MA 02144 73%189$150,313$988,800$713 cheaper homes ($111K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Somerville, MA 02143 72%189$130,753$926,800$769 cheaper homes ($173K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
San Francisco, CA 94109 71%2,568$106,018$1,300,300$1,070 lower income ($29K less) · pricier homes ($201K more) · 9 min shorter commute
Brookline, MA 02446 67%187$131,963$1,181,500$843 pricier homes ($82K more) · smaller · 11 min shorter commute
Boston, MA 02127 66%190$164,387$863,700$828 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($236K less) · smaller
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 66%186$131,551$822,300$642 cheaper homes ($277K less) · 8 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Cambridge, MA 02139 66%188$134,586$1,087,500$965 younger residents · 14 min shorter commute
San Francisco, CA 94110 64%2,569$158,351$1,450,400$1,059 pricier homes ($351K more) · 8 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Boston, MA 02116 63%189$126,496$1,562,500$1,330 pricier homes ($463K more) · smaller · 14 min shorter commute
Charlestown, MA 02129 63%191$157,247$912,000$948 cheaper homes ($188K less) · smaller · 10 min shorter commute
Washington, DC 20009 63%203$146,664$722,500$636 cheaper homes ($377K less) · 10 min shorter commute
San Francisco, CA 94121 63%2,572$133,358$1,611,400$1,132 pricier homes ($512K more) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Weehawken, NJ 07086 62%7$127,763$889,000$672 cheaper homes ($211K less) · smaller · newer homes
Boston, MA 02118 61%188$98,224$1,058,200$1,078 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller
Somerville, MA 02145 61%190$123,755$828,600$598 cheaper homes ($271K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
San Francisco, CA 94122 59%2,572$146,250$1,517,700$1,144 pricier homes ($418K more) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Los Angeles, CA 90036 58%2,453$109,785$1,881,900$830 pricier homes ($782K more) · 10 min shorter commute · more renters
Washington, DC 20002 56%202$120,337$826,400$494 cheaper homes ($273K less) · 9 min shorter commute · newer homes
Oakland, CA 94610 56%2,558$134,507$1,379,700$642 pricier homes ($280K more) · smaller · older residents
Cambridge, MA 02138 54%188$119,967$1,212,400$919 pricier homes ($113K more) · smaller · younger residents
Washington, DC 20008 54%204$125,212$965,100$596 cheaper homes ($135K less) · smaller · 10 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.