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 94108

San Francisco: median income $65,388, home value $1,134,100, $1,184/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New York, NY 10027 65%2,566$59,587$899,600$1,112 cheaper homes ($235K less) · larger · younger residents
New York, NY 10002 60%2,566$48,386$827,800$1,411 cheaper homes ($306K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Boston, MA 02118 58%2,691$98,224$1,058,200$1,078 higher income ($33K more) · cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger
New York, NY 10026 58%2,566$81,244$1,052,300$901 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger · younger residents
Portland, ME 04101 55%2,715$63,880$617,600$568 cheaper homes ($517K less) · larger · younger residents
New York, NY 10009 53%2,566$92,876$712,700$1,358 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($421K less) · larger
Rochester, NY 14604 50%2,355$52,105$784,700— cheaper homes ($349K less) · smaller · younger residents
New York, NY 10032 49%2,566$56,829$606,500$651 cheaper homes ($528K less) · larger · younger residents
Brooklyn, NY 11225 49%2,568$88,568$1,217,400$885 pricier homes ($83K more) · larger · younger residents
New York, NY 10031 47%2,566$65,283$609,700$623 cheaper homes ($524K less) · larger · younger residents
New York, NY 10033 47%2,566$75,040$695,000$628 cheaper homes ($439K less) · larger · younger residents
Sunnyside, NY 11104 46%2,569$80,709$610,100$631 cheaper homes ($524K less) · larger · younger residents
Boston, MA 02128 45%2,693$90,106$668,000$646 cheaper homes ($466K less) · larger · younger residents
Astoria, NY 11106 45%2,568$84,867$610,400$652 cheaper homes ($524K less) · larger · younger residents
Dorchester, MA 02125 44%2,692$82,953$657,100$553 cheaper homes ($477K less) · larger · younger residents
Astoria, NY 11103 44%2,569$93,324$1,002,200$728 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($132K less) · larger
Brooklyn, NY 11237 44%2,569$85,196$1,084,600$663 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · younger residents
Brooklyn, NY 11232 43%2,566$90,891$941,300$915 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($193K less) · larger
Boston, MA 02111 42%2,692$87,404$1,033,500$1,037 cheaper homes ($101K less) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
New York, NY 10030 42%2,566$39,802$844,000$644 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($290K less) · larger
Astoria, NY 11102 42%2,568$96,617$719,200$1,126 higher income ($31K more) · cheaper homes ($415K less) · larger
Astoria, NY 11105 42%2,569$102,012$1,081,200$725 higher income ($37K more) · cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Brooklyn, NY 11205 42%2,567$93,887$917,400$1,061 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($217K less) · larger
Brooklyn, NY 11211 42%2,567$107,506$1,140,700$1,449 higher income ($42K more) · larger · younger residents
Brooklyn, NY 11233 42%2,570$62,411$990,400$664 cheaper homes ($144K less) · larger · younger residents

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.