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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 Brookline, MA 02445

Brookline: median income $139,747, home value $1,227,000, $776/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Washington, DC 20007 92%390$140,996$1,292,400$727 pricier homes ($65K more)
Brookline, MA 02446 89%1$131,963$1,181,500$843 cheaper homes ($46K less) · more renters
Cambridge, MA 02138 86%4$119,967$1,212,400$919 larger · younger residents
Charlestown, MA 02129 83%5$157,247$912,000$948 cheaper homes ($315K less)
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 83%1$131,551$822,300$642 cheaper homes ($405K less) · larger
Somerville, MA 02144 83%5$150,313$988,800$713 cheaper homes ($238K less) · more renters
Cambridge, MA 02139 79%3$134,586$1,087,500$965 cheaper homes ($140K less) · larger · more renters
Cambridge, MA 02140 79%5$135,286$1,149,800$931 cheaper homes ($77K less) · more renters · newer homes
Somerville, MA 02143 79%4$130,753$926,800$769 cheaper homes ($300K less) · more renters
Newton, MA 02458 78%3$153,520$1,136,100$544 cheaper homes ($91K less) · smaller · older residents
Arlington, MA 02474 78%7$150,560$933,200$598 cheaper homes ($294K less) · older residents
Boston, MA 02127 77%5$164,387$863,700$828 cheaper homes ($363K less) · larger
Washington, DC 20008 76%389$125,212$965,100$596 cheaper homes ($262K less) · older residents · more renters
Berkeley, CA 94703 75%2,680$109,881$1,359,000$913 lower income ($30K less) · pricier homes ($132K more) · more single-family homes
Washington, DC 20009 73%389$146,664$722,500$636 cheaper homes ($505K less) · larger · more renters
Alexandria, VA 22301 73%394$194,819$1,027,900$616 higher income ($55K more) · cheaper homes ($199K less) · smaller
Oakland, CA 94610 73%2,680$134,507$1,379,700$642 pricier homes ($153K more) · older residents · more renters
Boston, MA 02116 71%3$126,496$1,562,500$1,330 pricier homes ($336K more) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Watertown, MA 02472 71%4$126,336$784,600$507 cheaper homes ($442K less) · larger · older residents
Albany, CA 94706 71%2,680$143,398$1,203,500$836 older residents · more single-family homes · newer homes
Newtonville, MA 02460 69%4$177,837$1,224,600$588 higher income ($38K more) · smaller · older residents
Montclair, NJ 07042 68%191$122,847$821,700$590 cheaper homes ($405K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
San Francisco, CA 94117 68%2,691$167,066$1,601,100$1,255 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($374K more) · larger
Washington, DC 20016 67%390$178,920$1,216,000$565 higher income ($39K more) · older residents · more homeowners
South Pasadena, CA 91030 67%2,581$127,175$1,640,000$947 pricier homes ($413K more) · older residents · more single-family homes

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.

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