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 94107

San Francisco: median income $182,897, home value $1,222,500, $1,051/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Washington, DC 20003 82%2,437$159,846$957,700$625 cheaper homes ($265K less)
Jersey City, NJ 07302 81%2,563$175,077$865,100$888 cheaper homes ($357K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
New York, NY 10280 74%2,564$206,299$976,300$1,104 cheaper homes ($246K less) · smaller · older residents
Alexandria, VA 22314 74%2,435$148,451$899,000$624 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($324K less) · older homes
Hoboken, NJ 07030 73%2,563$180,579$895,100$974 cheaper homes ($327K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Seattle, WA 98107 72%685$142,662$953,400$553 lower income ($40K less) · cheaper homes ($269K less) · more single-family homes
Arlington, VA 22201 71%2,431$145,000$781,600$625 lower income ($38K less) · cheaper homes ($441K less)
Washington, DC 20001 69%2,435$138,059$852,600$552 lower income ($45K less) · cheaper homes ($370K less) · older homes
Bellevue, WA 98004 69%681$182,545$2M+*$915 pricier homes ($778K more) · 9 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Boston, MA 02210 67%2,693$172,124$1,190,900$1,527 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Arlington, VA 22203 67%2,430$140,135$826,800$511 lower income ($43K less) · cheaper homes ($396K less)
Seattle, WA 98109 67%682$133,663$1,034,100$649 lower income ($49K less) · cheaper homes ($188K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Cambridge, MA 02141 64%2,691$126,522$868,100$842 lower income ($56K less) · cheaper homes ($354K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98121 64%681$152,019$848,400$575 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($374K less) · smaller
New York, NY 10018 63%2,565$145,958$1,044,800$1,183 lower income ($37K less) · cheaper homes ($178K less) · smaller
Austin, TX 78701 63%1,498$162,168$722,400$705 cheaper homes ($500K less) · smaller · older residents
New York, NY 10007 62%2,565$250,000+*$2M+*$1,655 higher income ($67K more) · pricier homes ($778K more) · smaller
Miami, FL 33131 61%2,590$144,138$655,100$622 lower income ($39K less) · cheaper homes ($567K less) · 12 min shorter commute
New York, NY 10069 59%2,565$233,636$2M+*$1,385 higher income ($51K more) · pricier homes ($778K more) · smaller
Long Island City, NY 11101 59%2,568$121,062$971,300$1,596 lower income ($62K less) · cheaper homes ($251K less) · more renters
Jersey City, NJ 07310 57%2,563$183,464$844,400$695 cheaper homes ($378K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Arlington, VA 22209 57%2,432$120,515$820,000$602 lower income ($62K less) · cheaper homes ($403K less) · smaller
New York, NY 10016 56%2,566$140,381$905,000$1,232 lower income ($43K less) · cheaper homes ($318K less) · larger
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 56%2,581$124,812$884,800$542 lower income ($58K less) · cheaper homes ($338K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98101 56%681$128,882$784,200$657 lower income ($54K less) · cheaper homes ($438K less) · smaller

* The Census Bureau doesn’t publish exact figures above $250,000 for household income, $2,000,000 for home values or $3,500 for monthly rent; it reports them as “or more.”

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.