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 Barbara, CA 93103

Santa Barbara: median income $122,159, home value $1,663,600, $1,148/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Jackson, WY 83001 70%786$124,717$1,669,100$1,299 more homeowners · newer homes
Kailua, HI 96734 66%2,474$132,782$1,367,600$904 cheaper homes ($296K less) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Honolulu, HI 96816 64%2,481$114,609$1,168,800$730 cheaper homes ($495K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Greenwich, CT 06830 61%2,528$146,654$1,660,700$858 11 min longer commute · more homeowners
Key West, FL 33040 59%2,364$86,586$819,400$824 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($844K less) · larger
Lahaina, HI 96761 57%2,432$101,123$995,800$849 cheaper homes ($668K less) · more homeowners · more apartments and townhomes
Koloa, HI 96756 55%2,554$99,274$969,800$1,130 cheaper homes ($694K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Honolulu, HI 96822 55%2,482$95,947$1,003,400$551 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($660K less) · larger
Bellevue, WA 98005 54%920$160,849$1,519,500$613 higher income ($39K more) · cheaper homes ($144K less) · 6 min longer commute
Nantucket, MA 02554 51%2,709$140,938$1,595,700$1,581 cheaper homes ($68K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Portsmouth, NH 03801 50%2,662$106,756$699,900$534 cheaper homes ($964K less) · 6 min longer commute
Miami, FL 33133 50%2,418$103,420$1,022,400$923 cheaper homes ($641K less) · larger · 11 min longer commute
Phoenix, AZ 85018 50%446$93,885$862,000$517 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($802K less) · larger
Incline Village, NV 89451 50%334$166,509$1,461,200$763 higher income ($44K more) · cheaper homes ($202K less) · smaller
West Harrison, NY 10604 49%2,522$117,014$735,700$479 cheaper homes ($928K less) · smaller · 9 min longer commute
Kihei, HI 96753 49%2,425$88,408$1,033,600$830 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($630K less) · more homeowners
Marathon, FL 33050 48%2,401$94,898$747,300$686 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($916K less) · smaller
Kirkland, WA 98034 48%927$135,219$946,300$565 cheaper homes ($717K less) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Dillon, CO 80435 47%835$97,463$941,600$927 cheaper homes ($722K less) · smaller · younger residents
Park City, UT 84060 47%621$128,295$1,795,000$1,041 pricier homes ($131K more) · smaller · older residents
Aiea, HI 96701 47%2,485$111,173$941,600$542 cheaper homes ($722K less) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Haleiwa, HI 96712 47%2,485$88,333$1,400,100$1,181 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($264K less) · smaller
Honolulu, HI 96819 47%2,483$99,848$954,600$477 cheaper homes ($709K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Avon, CO 81620 46%810$102,775$861,500$950 cheaper homes ($802K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Boise, ID 83702 46%663$85,733$777,100$469 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($887K less)

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.