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 94118

San Francisco: median income $163,995, home value $1,784,700, $1,272/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Brooklyn, NY 11217 92%2,570$162,863$1,636,500$1,385 cheaper homes ($148K less)
Brooklyn, NY 11231 89%2,568$139,930$1,611,200$1,376 cheaper homes ($174K less)
New York, NY 10024 85%2,568$181,560$1,687,800$1,481 cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger · older residents
Brooklyn, NY 11215 83%2,570$185,865$1,622,300$1,440 cheaper homes ($162K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
New York, NY 10013 81%2,568$161,154$2M+*$2,091 pricier homes ($215K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
New York, NY 10028 76%2,570$175,121$1,602,600$1,460 cheaper homes ($182K less) · newer homes
Brooklyn, NY 11201 76%2,569$173,136$1,110,700$1,355 cheaper homes ($674K less) · larger · newer homes
Boston, MA 02116 75%2,694$126,496$1,562,500$1,330 lower income ($37K less) · cheaper homes ($222K less) · smaller
Cambridge, MA 02140 75%2,691$135,286$1,149,800$931 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($635K less) · smaller
New York, NY 10128 74%2,570$147,772$1,442,000$1,157 cheaper homes ($343K less) · less walkable · newer homes
Brooklyn, NY 11238 74%2,570$134,523$1,099,700$1,306 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($685K less) · 5 min longer commute
Brookline, MA 02446 73%2,692$131,963$1,181,500$843 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($603K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Brooklyn, NY 11222 73%2,570$125,734$1,376,300$1,418 lower income ($38K less) · cheaper homes ($408K less) · more renters
New York, NY 10023 72%2,568$159,874$1,358,100$1,560 cheaper homes ($427K less) · larger · newer homes
Somerville, MA 02144 71%2,691$150,313$988,800$713 cheaper homes ($796K less) · smaller · younger residents
New York, NY 10011 71%2,568$145,987$1,181,200$1,881 cheaper homes ($604K less) · 8 min shorter commute · less walkable
Charlestown, MA 02129 70%2,694$157,247$912,000$948 cheaper homes ($873K less) · smaller · more homeowners
New York, NY 10014 70%2,567$176,395$1,284,100$2,268 cheaper homes ($501K less) · 8 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Cambridge, MA 02139 68%2,692$134,586$1,087,500$965 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($697K less) · younger residents
New York, NY 10065 68%2,569$155,331$1,419,800$1,371 cheaper homes ($365K less) · 7 min shorter commute · less walkable
Boston, MA 02127 67%2,696$164,387$863,700$828 cheaper homes ($921K less) · younger residents
Somerville, MA 02143 67%2,692$130,753$926,800$769 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($858K less) · smaller
Brookline, MA 02445 67%2,691$139,747$1,227,000$776 cheaper homes ($558K less) · smaller · younger residents
New York, NY 10021 67%2,569$158,677$1,377,500$1,262 cheaper homes ($407K less) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
New York, NY 10025 67%2,568$108,940$1,106,900$1,337 lower income ($55K less) · cheaper homes ($678K less) · larger

* 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.