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 Carbondale, CO 81623

Carbondale: median income $109,661, home value $913,300, $681/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Escondido, CA 92029 91%697$124,726$985,500$497 pricier homes ($72K more)
Carlsbad, CA 92010 89%702$129,926$1,103,300$639 pricier homes ($190K more)
Valencia, CA 91355 88%711$115,640$806,200$472 cheaper homes ($107K less) · larger
Soquel, CA 95073 87%815$118,169$1,062,800$699 pricier homes ($150K more) · older homes
Novato, CA 94949 85%831$120,758$1,150,500$576 pricier homes ($237K more) · older homes
Mukilteo, WA 98275 85%961$132,861$884,900$418 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Laguna Hills, CA 92653 84%702$133,194$1,063,300$666 pricier homes ($150K more) · larger · older homes
Mission Viejo, CA 92692 84%698$131,175$1,037,300$636 pricier homes ($124K more) · larger
Camarillo, CA 93012 84%738$135,217$841,800$498 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger
Arroyo Grande, CA 93420 84%781$110,553$917,900$572 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Buellton, CA 93427 84%784$102,857$867,500$567 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller
Benicia, CA 94510 84%810$121,204$810,000$431 cheaper homes ($103K less) · larger · older homes
Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 83%731$139,800$1,116,500$566 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($203K more) · larger
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91737 83%674$122,334$878,400$459 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Diamond Bar, CA 91765 83%690$105,565$915,100$560 larger · older homes
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 82%1,334$107,821$684,700$469 cheaper homes ($229K less) · larger · newer homes
Reno, NV 89511 82%671$124,130$916,600$484 larger · 8 min shorter commute
Oceanside, CA 92056 82%700$106,272$773,200$555 cheaper homes ($140K less) · larger
San Marcos, CA 92078 82%699$120,268$942,300$530 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · younger residents
Anaheim, CA 92808 82%693$158,462$1,069,300$627 higher income ($49K more) · pricier homes ($156K more)
San Diego, CA 92119 81%706$113,435$879,200$605 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · older homes
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 81%703$129,457$993,800$697 pricier homes ($81K more) · larger · older homes
Hayward, CA 94542 81%810$133,734$1,148,000$606 pricier homes ($235K more) · 7 min longer commute · older homes
Kamuela, HI 96743 81%3,156$101,468$738,700$853 cheaper homes ($175K less) · less walkable
Mililani, HI 96789 81%3,221$127,066$920,400$602 larger

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.