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 94109

San Francisco: median income $106,018, home value $1,300,300, $1,070/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Boston, MA 02118 85%2,692$98,224$1,058,200$1,078 cheaper homes ($242K less) · smaller · more homeowners
New York, NY 10025 85%2,566$108,940$1,106,900$1,337 cheaper homes ($193K less) · larger · more homeowners
Brooklyn, NY 11222 83%2,568$125,734$1,376,300$1,418 pricier homes ($76K more) · 8 min longer commute
New York, NY 10009 79%2,566$92,876$712,700$1,358 cheaper homes ($588K less)
Brooklyn, NY 11211 79%2,568$107,506$1,140,700$1,449 cheaper homes ($160K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Brooklyn, NY 11231 76%2,566$139,930$1,611,200$1,376 higher income ($34K more) · pricier homes ($311K more) · 7 min longer commute
New York, NY 10026 73%2,567$81,244$1,052,300$901 cheaper homes ($248K less) · 7 min longer commute · newer homes
Astoria, NY 11105 73%2,569$102,012$1,081,200$725 cheaper homes ($219K less) · 10 min longer commute
Brooklyn, NY 11225 72%2,569$88,568$1,217,400$885 cheaper homes ($83K less) · 10 min longer commute · less walkable
Boston, MA 02116 71%2,692$126,496$1,562,500$1,330 pricier homes ($262K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Brooklyn, NY 11238 71%2,568$134,523$1,099,700$1,306 higher income ($29K more) · cheaper homes ($201K less) · 9 min longer commute
Somerville, MA 02143 70%2,690$130,753$926,800$769 cheaper homes ($374K less) · smaller · younger residents
Brooklyn, NY 11205 70%2,568$93,887$917,400$1,061 cheaper homes ($383K less) · younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Brooklyn, NY 11217 69%2,567$162,863$1,636,500$1,385 higher income ($57K more) · pricier homes ($336K more) · 5 min longer commute
Brooklyn, NY 11216 68%2,569$101,277$1,293,700$938 13 min longer commute · less walkable
Cambridge, MA 02139 67%2,690$134,586$1,087,500$965 higher income ($29K more) · cheaper homes ($213K less) · younger residents
Astoria, NY 11103 66%2,569$93,324$1,002,200$728 cheaper homes ($298K less) · smaller · 13 min longer commute
Brookline, MA 02446 65%2,689$131,963$1,181,500$843 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($119K less) · smaller
New York, NY 10038 65%2,566$105,419$921,900$1,006 cheaper homes ($378K less) · smaller · younger residents
Cambridge, MA 02140 64%2,688$135,286$1,149,800$931 higher income ($29K more) · cheaper homes ($151K less) · smaller
Somerville, MA 02145 64%2,690$123,755$828,600$598 cheaper homes ($472K less) · smaller · younger residents
New York, NY 10019 63%2,566$128,559$1,061,300$1,244 cheaper homes ($239K less) · less walkable · newer homes
New York, NY 10128 62%2,567$147,772$1,442,000$1,157 higher income ($42K more) · pricier homes ($142K more) · more homeowners
Astoria, NY 11102 62%2,569$96,617$719,200$1,126 cheaper homes ($581K less) · smaller · 12 min longer commute
Brooklyn, NY 11218 61%2,568$97,366$935,900$846 cheaper homes ($364K less) · 11 min longer commute · 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.