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 94122

San Francisco: median income $146,250, home value $1,517,700, $1,144/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Brooklyn, NY 11231 73%2,570$139,930$1,611,200$1,376 pricier homes ($94K more) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Greenwich, CT 06830 71%2,584$146,654$1,660,700$858 pricier homes ($143K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Charlestown, MA 02129 69%2,696$157,247$912,000$948 cheaper homes ($606K less) · smaller · younger residents
New York, NY 10024 67%2,570$181,560$1,687,800$1,481 higher income ($35K more) · pricier homes ($170K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Brooklyn, NY 11217 67%2,571$162,863$1,636,500$1,385 pricier homes ($119K more) · younger residents · more renters
Boston, MA 02127 65%2,698$164,387$863,700$828 cheaper homes ($654K less) · smaller · younger residents
Arlington, MA 02474 65%2,691$150,560$933,200$598 cheaper homes ($585K less) · smaller · more homeowners
New York, NY 10021 65%2,571$158,677$1,377,500$1,262 cheaper homes ($140K less) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
New York, NY 10025 65%2,570$108,940$1,106,900$1,337 lower income ($37K less) · cheaper homes ($411K less) · larger
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 64%2,694$131,551$822,300$642 cheaper homes ($695K less) · younger residents
Cambridge, MA 02140 64%2,692$135,286$1,149,800$931 cheaper homes ($368K less) · smaller · younger residents
Brookline, MA 02445 64%2,693$139,747$1,227,000$776 cheaper homes ($291K less) · smaller · younger residents
Montclair, NJ 07042 64%2,557$122,847$821,700$590 cheaper homes ($696K less) · smaller
New York, NY 10128 64%2,571$147,772$1,442,000$1,157 cheaper homes ($76K less) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
New York, NY 10023 63%2,570$159,874$1,358,100$1,560 cheaper homes ($160K less) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Brooklyn, NY 11215 63%2,571$185,865$1,622,300$1,440 higher income ($40K more) · pricier homes ($105K more) · younger residents
Watertown, MA 02472 62%2,690$126,336$784,600$507 cheaper homes ($733K less) · smaller
New York, NY 10011 62%2,569$145,987$1,181,200$1,881 cheaper homes ($337K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more renters
New York, NY 10028 62%2,571$175,121$1,602,600$1,460 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($85K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Washington, DC 20007 62%2,437$140,996$1,292,400$727 cheaper homes ($225K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Somerville, MA 02144 61%2,693$150,313$988,800$713 cheaper homes ($529K less) · smaller · younger residents
Newton, MA 02458 61%2,690$153,520$1,136,100$544 cheaper homes ($382K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Brooklyn, NY 11201 61%2,570$173,136$1,110,700$1,355 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($407K less) · younger residents
Brookline, MA 02446 60%2,694$131,963$1,181,500$843 cheaper homes ($336K less) · smaller · younger residents
Arlington, MA 02476 60%2,690$151,131$934,800$609 cheaper homes ($583K less) · smaller · 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.