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 San Francisco, CA 94103

San Francisco: median income $116,438, home value $1,022,800, $857/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Miami, FL 33137 77%2,589$94,036$616,800$672 cheaper homes ($406K less)
Seattle, WA 98101 73%680$128,882$784,200$657 cheaper homes ($239K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 71%2,582$124,812$884,800$542 cheaper homes ($138K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Cambridge, MA 02141 70%2,691$126,522$868,100$842 cheaper homes ($155K less) · smaller · younger residents
Seattle, WA 98122 70%680$106,886$957,100$551 cheaper homes ($66K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Miami, FL 33132 69%2,591$109,109$524,300$550 cheaper homes ($499K less) · smaller
Dallas, TX 75201 69%1,480$103,761$688,100$614 cheaper homes ($335K less) · smaller · younger residents
Boston, MA 02111 68%2,693$87,404$1,033,500$1,037 lower income ($29K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Long Island City, NY 11101 68%2,569$121,062$971,300$1,596 cheaper homes ($52K less) · 6 min longer commute · less walkable
Seattle, WA 98109 68%681$133,663$1,034,100$649 younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Denver, CO 80202 67%947$114,151$722,700$467 cheaper homes ($300K less) · smaller
New York, NY 10036 66%2,566$95,638$952,900$1,304 cheaper homes ($70K less) · less walkable · older homes
New York, NY 10044 66%2,568$103,347$1,034,100$967 smaller · 9 min longer commute · older homes
New York, NY 10038 65%2,566$105,419$921,900$1,006 cheaper homes ($101K less) · smaller · older homes
Brooklyn, NY 11249 65%2,570$123,047$1,478,400$1,804 pricier homes ($456K more) · younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Washington, DC 20001 64%2,436$138,059$852,600$552 cheaper homes ($170K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Tampa, FL 33602 64%2,396$97,320$653,100$431 cheaper homes ($370K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Seattle, WA 98102 63%681$114,925$963,200$617 cheaper homes ($60K less) · older homes
Arlington, VA 22203 62%2,431$140,135$826,800$511 cheaper homes ($196K less)
Seattle, WA 98121 61%680$152,019$848,400$575 higher income ($36K more) · cheaper homes ($174K less) · smaller
New York, NY 10018 60%2,566$145,958$1,044,800$1,183 higher income ($30K more) · smaller · less walkable
Palisades Park, NJ 07650 59%2,564$94,743$719,600$511 cheaper homes ($303K less) · smaller · older residents
Arlington, VA 22209 58%2,433$120,515$820,000$602 cheaper homes ($203K less) · smaller · older homes
Washington, DC 20003 57%2,438$159,846$957,700$625 higher income ($43K more) · cheaper homes ($65K less) · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98107 57%684$142,662$953,400$553 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($69K less) · more homeowners

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.