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 Santa Fe, NM 87506

Santa Fe: median income $96,511, home value $611,800, $464/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mashpee, MA 02649 94%1,941$95,299$562,200$420 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Bigfork, MT 59911 93%941$83,019$666,400$456 pricier homes ($55K more) · smaller
Wells, ME 04090 90%1,939$88,024$485,300$380 cheaper homes ($127K less)
Fernandina Beach, FL 32034 88%1,457$98,583$537,800$353 cheaper homes ($74K less) · larger
Kennebunk, ME 04043 87%1,942$107,804$487,700$378 cheaper homes ($124K less)
Fountain Hills, AZ 85268 87%360$112,795$623,400$336 Very close on everything we compare
Anacortes, WA 98221 87%1,217$96,528$713,100$419 pricier homes ($101K more) · younger residents
Brewster, MA 02631 86%1,963$102,132$700,500$488 pricier homes ($89K more) · smaller · older homes
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 86%1,463$97,948$639,400$351 pricier homes ($28K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Melbourne Beach, FL 32951 86%1,581$98,420$567,300$354 cheaper homes ($45K less) · older residents
Bend, OR 97707 86%993$85,272$647,600$432 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 85%115$84,270$486,000$342 cheaper homes ($126K less)
Yarmouth Port, MA 02675 84%1,954$110,450$607,900$424 smaller · older homes
Wolfeboro, NH 03894 84%1,911$94,349$548,600$347 cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller · older homes
Seneca, SC 29672 84%1,298$90,650$482,100$271 cheaper homes ($130K less)
Greensboro, GA 30642 84%1,303$95,527$496,400$262 cheaper homes ($115K less)
Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657 84%571$91,452$483,200$281 cheaper homes ($129K less) · smaller
Sisters, OR 97759 84%1,006$102,734$777,700$425 pricier homes ($166K more) · smaller · more walkable
Kennebunkport, ME 04046 83%1,945$102,529$586,100$434 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · younger residents
White Salmon, WA 98672 83%1,059$97,622$669,200$415 pricier homes ($57K more) · smaller · younger residents
Leavenworth, WA 98826 83%1,110$87,646$720,000$411 pricier homes ($108K more) · smaller · more renters
Harwich, MA 02645 82%1,963$104,401$648,200$483 pricier homes ($36K more) · more single-family homes · older homes
Oak Island, NC 28465 82%1,580$86,194$479,500$428 cheaper homes ($132K less) · smaller · older residents
Galveston, TX 77554 82%787$86,490$466,800$340 cheaper homes ($145K less) · smaller · more renters
Tucson, AZ 85749 82%367$109,219$590,400$282 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.