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 Arroyo Grande, CA 93420

Arroyo Grande: median income $110,553, home value $917,900, $572/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Reno, NV 89511 89%296$124,130$916,600$484 newer homes
Anacortes, WA 98221 85%928$96,528$713,100$419 cheaper homes ($205K less)
Carbondale, CO 81623 84%781$109,661$913,300$681 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Aiea, HI 96701 84%2,452$111,173$941,600$542 more apartments and townhomes
Pearl City, HI 96782 84%2,453$108,669$874,200$603 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Kahului, HI 96732 83%2,391$101,739$864,300$640 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Hailey, ID 83333 82%664$99,704$744,200$566 cheaper homes ($174K less) · smaller · younger residents
Kailua Kona, HI 96740 82%2,410$95,542$760,600$627 cheaper homes ($157K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Kapaa, HI 96746 82%2,506$88,802$882,400$727 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller · less walkable
Wailuku, HI 96793 82%2,392$107,668$832,400$656 cheaper homes ($86K less) · younger residents
Belmar, NJ 07719 81%2,532$119,828$700,900$488 cheaper homes ($217K less) · older homes
Boca Raton, FL 33486 81%2,455$105,540$664,100$530 cheaper homes ($254K less) · younger residents
Gig Harbor, WA 98335 81%846$128,592$791,100$401 cheaper homes ($127K less)
Edmonds, WA 98026 80%881$133,638$821,700$450 cheaper homes ($96K less) · younger residents · more walkable
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 79%781$109,129$798,900$438 cheaper homes ($119K less) · smaller · younger residents
Makawao, HI 96768 79%2,384$100,391$946,700$814 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Key Largo, FL 33037 78%2,473$86,533$683,000$582 cheaper homes ($235K less) · smaller · older residents
Kaneohe, HI 96744 78%2,444$131,653$1,039,900$690 pricier homes ($122K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
East Hampton, NY 11937 77%2,623$129,883$1,115,100$875 pricier homes ($197K more) · more single-family homes
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 77%2,006$107,821$684,700$469 cheaper homes ($233K less) · newer homes
Scottsdale, AZ 85254 77%497$123,203$785,700$426 cheaper homes ($132K less) · more walkable
Mukilteo, WA 98275 77%886$132,861$884,900$418 cheaper homes ($33K less) · younger residents
Wakefield, RI 02879 76%2,653$112,231$564,700$445 cheaper homes ($353K less)
Fairfield, NJ 07004 76%2,514$115,980$688,500$393 cheaper homes ($229K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Honolulu, HI 96816 76%2,449$114,609$1,168,800$730 pricier homes ($251K more) · larger · more walkable

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.