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 Berkeley, CA 94709

Berkeley: median income $89,054, home value $1,375,000, $877/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cambridge, MA 02138 74%2,679$119,967$1,212,400$919 higher income ($31K more) · cheaper homes ($163K less) · larger
Cambridge, MA 02139 73%2,680$134,586$1,087,500$965 higher income ($46K more) · cheaper homes ($288K less) · larger
Somerville, MA 02143 73%2,680$130,753$926,800$769 higher income ($42K more) · cheaper homes ($448K less) · larger
Boston, MA 02116 72%2,682$126,496$1,562,500$1,330 higher income ($37K more) · pricier homes ($188K more) · larger
Boston, MA 02118 71%2,682$98,224$1,058,200$1,078 cheaper homes ($317K less) · larger · older residents
Brookline, MA 02446 71%2,679$131,963$1,181,500$843 higher income ($43K more) · cheaper homes ($194K less) · larger
Boston, MA 02113 68%2,682$113,314$662,000$1,091 cheaper homes ($713K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Cambridge, MA 02140 68%2,678$135,286$1,149,800$931 higher income ($46K more) · cheaper homes ($225K less) · larger
Portland, OR 97210 65%529$93,621$991,200$376 cheaper homes ($384K less) · older residents · newer homes
Allston, MA 02134 64%2,679$78,679$657,300$616 cheaper homes ($718K less) · 8 min longer commute
New York, NY 10038 64%2,556$105,419$921,900$1,006 cheaper homes ($453K less) · larger · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98102 63%674$114,925$963,200$617 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($412K less) · larger
Brighton, MA 02135 62%2,678$90,829$681,200$631 cheaper homes ($694K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Princeton, NJ 08542 62%2,527$105,524$754,100$676 cheaper homes ($621K less) · smaller · older residents
Boston, MA 02114 60%2,682$132,210$924,400$1,148 higher income ($43K more) · cheaper homes ($451K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Somerville, MA 02144 59%2,679$150,313$988,800$713 higher income ($61K more) · cheaper homes ($386K less) · larger
Washington, DC 20008 59%2,423$125,212$965,100$596 higher income ($36K more) · cheaper homes ($410K less) · larger
Boston, MA 02215 58%2,680$72,095$750,000$1,104 cheaper homes ($625K less) · larger · younger residents
Brookline, MA 02445 58%2,679$139,747$1,227,000$776 higher income ($51K more) · cheaper homes ($148K less) · larger
Seattle, WA 98119 58%674$123,551$1,047,600$594 higher income ($34K more) · cheaper homes ($327K less) · larger
Washington, DC 20010 57%2,425$114,126$886,600$471 higher income ($25K more) · cheaper homes ($488K less) · larger
Alexandria, VA 22305 57%2,425$113,537$864,500$521 cheaper homes ($511K less) · newer homes
Philadelphia, PA 19103 56%2,506$99,644$582,500$477 cheaper homes ($793K less) · larger · newer homes
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 55%2,680$131,551$822,300$642 higher income ($42K more) · cheaper homes ($553K less) · larger
Seattle, WA 98105 55%676$74,349$1,312,100$578 cheaper homes ($63K 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.