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 Basalt, CO 81621

Basalt: median income $104,754, home value $1,136,600, $1,250/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Carlsbad, CA 92010 76%715$129,926$1,103,300$639 higher income ($25K more) · cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Capistrano Beach, CA 92624 73%719$140,666$1,226,200$1,085 higher income ($36K more) · pricier homes ($90K more) · older homes
Carpinteria, CA 93013 73%771$110,359$1,153,600$1,089 larger · 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Tahoe City, CA 96145 72%703$112,875$962,600$704 cheaper homes ($174K less) · smaller · older homes
Soquel, CA 95073 71%827$118,169$1,062,800$699 cheaper homes ($74K less) · larger · older homes
Dana Point, CA 92629 69%719$142,807$1,347,700$1,095 higher income ($38K more) · pricier homes ($211K more) · larger
Laguna Hills, CA 92653 68%715$133,194$1,063,300$666 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger
Buellton, CA 93427 68%797$102,857$867,500$567 cheaper homes ($269K less)
Pismo Beach, CA 93449 67%804$118,072$1,021,300$777 cheaper homes ($115K less) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Montauk, NY 11954 66%1,841$142,961$1,356,600$1,185 higher income ($38K more) · pricier homes ($220K more) · smaller
Novato, CA 94949 66%842$120,758$1,150,500$576 larger · older residents · older homes
Westhampton Beach, NY 11978 65%1,807$125,179$1,054,000$822 cheaper homes ($83K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Gallatin Gateway, MT 59730 65%467$98,305$1,014,200$801 cheaper homes ($122K less) · smaller · younger residents
Carlsbad, CA 92008 65%716$104,995$1,229,400$891 pricier homes ($93K more) · larger · more renters
Carlsbad, CA 92011 65%717$159,235$1,302,600$770 higher income ($54K more) · pricier homes ($166K more) · larger
Irvine, CA 92604 64%715$133,869$1,058,000$830 higher income ($29K more) · cheaper homes ($79K less) · larger
San Clemente, CA 92672 64%718$111,989$1,438,800$978 pricier homes ($302K more) · larger · more renters
Anaheim, CA 92808 64%706$158,462$1,069,300$627 higher income ($54K more) · cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger
Scotts Valley, CA 95066 63%830$151,250$1,136,400$649 higher income ($46K more) · larger · older homes
Kamuela, HI 96743 63%3,168$101,468$738,700$853 cheaper homes ($398K less) · larger · older residents
San Diego, CA 92120 62%721$120,661$924,900$654 cheaper homes ($212K less) · larger · younger residents
Huntington Beach, CA 92649 62%726$123,257$1,131,500$810 larger · older homes
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019 62%845$153,781$1,556,800$812 higher income ($49K more) · pricier homes ($420K more) · larger
Hayward, CA 94542 62%821$133,734$1,148,000$606 higher income ($29K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Summerland Key, FL 33042 61%1,795$103,041$856,500$854 cheaper homes ($280K less) · older residents · 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.