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 90028

Los Angeles: median income $61,349, home value $1,043,100, $675/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Roxbury Crossing, MA 02120 71%2,592$64,289$885,900$485 cheaper homes ($157K less) · smaller · younger residents
New York, NY 10027 71%2,451$59,587$899,600$1,112 cheaper homes ($144K less) · larger · more homeowners
Brooklyn, NY 11206 68%2,452$61,430$839,800$993 cheaper homes ($203K less) · larger · younger residents
Seattle, WA 98104 66%956$61,460$616,000$596 cheaper homes ($427K less) · smaller · newer homes
New York, NY 10026 64%2,451$81,244$1,052,300$901 8 min longer commute · more homeowners · older homes
Denver, CO 80246 64%834$67,235$716,400$405 cheaper homes ($327K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Alexandria, VA 22311 61%2,293$87,626$760,300$379 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($283K less) · smaller
Portland, OR 97205 61%822$57,288$637,100$387 cheaper homes ($406K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Roxbury, MA 02119 60%2,592$48,488$688,600$459 cheaper homes ($355K less) · more homeowners
Astoria, NY 11106 60%2,452$84,867$610,400$652 cheaper homes ($433K less) · 9 min longer commute · more homeowners
New York, NY 10035 59%2,452$45,121$665,800$540 cheaper homes ($377K less) · 8 min longer commute · less walkable
Jersey City, NJ 07306 57%2,445$74,953$516,000$478 cheaper homes ($527K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
New York, NY 10002 56%2,449$48,386$827,800$1,411 cheaper homes ($215K less) · larger · older residents
New York, NY 10031 56%2,451$65,283$609,700$623 cheaper homes ($433K less) · larger · 9 min longer commute
New York, NY 10032 56%2,451$56,829$606,500$651 cheaper homes ($437K less) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Tacoma, WA 98402 56%934$60,505$531,300$438 cheaper homes ($512K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Boston, MA 02111 55%2,593$87,404$1,033,500$1,037 higher income ($26K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Portland, ME 04101 55%2,630$63,880$617,600$568 cheaper homes ($426K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
New York, NY 10029 55%2,451$38,695$892,200$961 cheaper homes ($151K less) · larger · less walkable
Jersey City, NJ 07304 54%2,445$70,986$537,200$429 cheaper homes ($506K less) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Union City, NJ 07087 53%2,447$64,310$471,600$453 cheaper homes ($572K less) · larger · more homeowners
New York, NY 10033 53%2,452$75,040$695,000$628 cheaper homes ($348K less) · larger · 11 min longer commute
Allston, MA 02134 52%2,590$78,679$657,300$616 cheaper homes ($386K less) · smaller · younger residents
Brighton, MA 02135 52%2,589$90,829$681,200$631 higher income ($29K more) · cheaper homes ($362K less) · younger residents
Providence, RI 02903 52%2,578$64,476$408,900$475 cheaper homes ($634K less) · smaller · 6 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.