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 87508

Santa Fe: median income $101,565, home value $561,200, $335/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tucson, AZ 85749 93%357$109,219$590,400$282 pricier homes ($29K more)
Tucson, AZ 85755 91%360$113,831$486,900$260 cheaper homes ($74K less) · older residents
Fairview, NC 28730 89%1,320$102,900$433,300$267 cheaper homes ($128K less) · smaller
Greensboro, GA 30642 89%1,299$95,527$496,400$262 cheaper homes ($65K less) · more renters
Sarasota, FL 34241 89%1,494$116,412$564,600$267 Very close on everything we compare
Seneca, SC 29672 88%1,296$90,650$482,100$271 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Bigfork, MT 59911 87%961$83,019$666,400$456 pricier homes ($105K more) · smaller
Cave Creek, AZ 85331 87%360$129,083$741,700$355 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($181K more) · larger
Bend, OR 97707 87%1,008$85,272$647,600$432 pricier homes ($86K more) · smaller
Pittsboro, NC 27312 86%1,497$103,104$467,900$274 cheaper homes ($93K less) · younger residents · more renters
Pinehurst, NC 28374 86%1,486$111,311$491,200$246 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Boynton Beach, FL 33472 86%1,640$101,959$446,200$256 cheaper homes ($115K less)
Sandwich, MA 02563 85%1,946$121,455$617,800$441 pricier homes ($57K more) · smaller · older homes
Yarmouth Port, MA 02675 85%1,959$110,450$607,900$424 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller · older homes
Milton, DE 19968 85%1,694$87,163$437,000$240 cheaper homes ($124K less)
Fernandina Beach, FL 32034 85%1,451$98,583$537,800$353 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Mashpee, MA 02649 84%1,946$95,299$562,200$420 Very close on everything we compare
Oak Island, NC 28465 84%1,577$86,194$479,500$428 cheaper homes ($82K less) · smaller · older residents
Johns Island, SC 29455 84%1,484$121,372$590,800$330 pricier homes ($30K more) · younger residents
Wimberley, TX 78676 84%592$87,344$511,600$281 cheaper homes ($50K less) · younger residents · more renters
Fountain Hills, AZ 85268 84%356$112,795$623,400$336 pricier homes ($62K more) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Moultonborough, NH 03254 83%1,907$106,440$641,300$374 pricier homes ($80K more) · smaller
Wells, ME 04090 83%1,945$88,024$485,300$380 cheaper homes ($76K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Kitty Hawk, NC 27949 83%1,687$120,662$677,600$403 pricier homes ($116K more) · smaller · more walkable
Palm City, FL 34990 83%1,613$129,560$592,400$283 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($31K more) · 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.