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 94123

San Francisco: median income $218,603, home value $2M+*, $1,423/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Brooklyn, NY 11217 79%2,568$162,863$1,636,500$1,385 lower income ($56K less) · cheaper homes ($364K less) · larger
New York, NY 10005 78%2,566$190,233$1,390,600$1,144 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($609K less) · smaller
New York, NY 10013 74%2,566$161,154$2M+*$2,091 lower income ($57K less) · older residents
Brooklyn, NY 11215 73%2,568$185,865$1,622,300$1,440 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($378K less) · larger
New York, NY 10024 71%2,566$181,560$1,687,800$1,481 lower income ($37K less) · cheaper homes ($312K less) · larger
New York, NY 10004 70%2,566$250,000+*$1,477,700$1,175 higher income ($31K more) · cheaper homes ($522K less) · smaller
New York, NY 10014 70%2,566$176,395$1,284,100$2,268 lower income ($42K less) · cheaper homes ($716K less) · older residents
Brooklyn, NY 11201 68%2,567$173,136$1,110,700$1,355 lower income ($45K less) · cheaper homes ($889K less) · larger
New York, NY 10028 66%2,568$175,121$1,602,600$1,460 lower income ($43K less) · cheaper homes ($397K less) · larger
New York, NY 10006 64%2,566$190,170$1,090,300$1,834 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($910K less) · smaller
Brooklyn, NY 11231 63%2,567$139,930$1,611,200$1,376 lower income ($79K less) · cheaper homes ($389K less) · larger
Boston, MA 02108 62%2,692$212,928$1,667,600$1,406 cheaper homes ($332K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
New York, NY 10003 62%2,566$154,262$1,123,200$1,776 lower income ($64K less) · cheaper homes ($877K less) · larger
Boston, MA 02116 61%2,692$126,496$1,562,500$1,330 lower income ($92K less) · cheaper homes ($438K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Cambridge, MA 02140 59%2,689$135,286$1,149,800$931 lower income ($83K less) · cheaper homes ($850K less) · newer homes
New York, NY 10065 59%2,567$155,331$1,419,800$1,371 lower income ($63K less) · cheaper homes ($580K less) · older residents
Brookline, MA 02446 58%2,690$131,963$1,181,500$843 lower income ($87K less) · cheaper homes ($819K less)
New York, NY 10012 58%2,566$137,106$1,602,800$2,291 lower income ($81K less) · cheaper homes ($397K less) · 10 min shorter commute
Cambridge, MA 02139 57%2,691$134,586$1,087,500$965 lower income ($84K less) · cheaper homes ($913K less) · larger
Somerville, MA 02144 57%2,689$150,313$988,800$713 lower income ($68K less) · cheaper homes ($1011K less)
New York, NY 10010 57%2,567$144,969$1,036,200$1,985 lower income ($74K less) · cheaper homes ($964K less) · less walkable
New York, NY 10023 57%2,566$159,874$1,358,100$1,560 lower income ($59K less) · cheaper homes ($642K less) · larger
Charlestown, MA 02129 54%2,692$157,247$912,000$948 lower income ($61K less) · cheaper homes ($1088K less) · more homeowners
New York, NY 10011 54%2,566$145,987$1,181,200$1,881 lower income ($73K less) · cheaper homes ($819K less) · larger
Boston, MA 02127 53%2,694$164,387$863,700$828 lower income ($54K less) · cheaper homes ($1136K 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.