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 Los Angeles, CA 90026

Los Angeles: median income $87,334, home value $1,199,500, $831/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New York, NY 10026 75%2,448$81,244$1,052,300$901 cheaper homes ($147K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Brooklyn, NY 11225 73%2,449$88,568$1,217,400$885 8 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Astoria, NY 11105 71%2,451$102,012$1,081,200$725 cheaper homes ($118K less) · smaller · 8 min longer commute
Brooklyn, NY 11205 71%2,448$93,887$917,400$1,061 cheaper homes ($282K less) · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Boston, MA 02128 70%2,593$90,106$668,000$646 cheaper homes ($532K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Boston, MA 02118 69%2,591$98,224$1,058,200$1,078 cheaper homes ($141K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Brooklyn, NY 11218 69%2,448$97,366$935,900$846 cheaper homes ($264K less) · 9 min longer commute · more homeowners
Dorchester, MA 02125 68%2,591$82,953$657,100$553 cheaper homes ($542K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Astoria, NY 11103 66%2,451$93,324$1,002,200$728 cheaper homes ($197K less) · smaller · 11 min longer commute
Somerville, MA 02145 65%2,589$123,755$828,600$598 higher income ($36K more) · cheaper homes ($371K less) · smaller
Malden, MA 02148 65%2,591$100,606$633,500$451 cheaper homes ($566K less) · more homeowners
Jersey City, NJ 07307 65%2,444$83,297$582,600$567 cheaper homes ($617K less) · more homeowners · more apartments and townhomes
New York, NY 10027 65%2,448$59,587$899,600$1,112 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($300K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Brooklyn, NY 11211 64%2,449$107,506$1,140,700$1,449 cheaper homes ($59K less) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Brooklyn, NY 11237 64%2,451$85,196$1,084,600$663 cheaper homes ($115K less) · 9 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Brooklyn, NY 11230 63%2,449$70,027$874,500$458 cheaper homes ($325K less) · 9 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Astoria, NY 11106 62%2,450$84,867$610,400$652 cheaper homes ($589K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Brooklyn, NY 11216 62%2,449$101,277$1,293,700$938 pricier homes ($94K more) · 11 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Jamaica, NY 11432 62%2,457$74,096$864,900$597 cheaper homes ($335K less) · 12 min longer commute · more homeowners
Alexandria, VA 22305 62%2,294$113,537$864,500$521 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($335K less) · smaller
Brooklyn, NY 11232 61%2,446$90,891$941,300$915 cheaper homes ($258K less) · smaller · 11 min longer commute
Fresh Meadows, NY 11365 61%2,457$81,258$922,200$728 cheaper homes ($277K less) · older residents · 9 min longer commute
Woodside, NY 11377 61%2,451$73,073$727,200$586 cheaper homes ($472K less) · 5 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
New York, NY 10009 60%2,447$92,876$712,700$1,358 cheaper homes ($487K less) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
White Plains, NY 10606 60%2,457$112,270$682,300$492 cheaper homes ($517K less) · smaller · 5 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.