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 Carmel Valley, CA 93924

Carmel Valley: median income $148,563, home value $1,222,600, $762/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rye, NH 03870 94%2,703$140,938$990,700$601 cheaper homes ($232K less)
Cutchogue, NY 11935 82%2,637$143,750$915,900$684 cheaper homes ($307K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Sag Harbor, NY 11963 82%2,646$127,746$1,208,000$1,004 7 min shorter commute
Southampton, NY 11968 81%2,642$156,219$1,326,600$963 pricier homes ($104K more) · larger · younger residents
Southold, NY 11971 80%2,639$129,507$843,300$587 cheaper homes ($379K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Wellfleet, MA 02667 79%2,752$121,110$855,500$627 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($367K less) · smaller
Westhampton, NY 11977 79%2,629$151,375$1,077,200$568 cheaper homes ($145K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Jamestown, RI 02835 78%2,688$140,625$842,400$616 cheaper homes ($380K less) · more walkable
Oceanport, NJ 07757 78%2,566$126,094$757,700$524 cheaper homes ($465K less)
Westhampton Beach, NY 11978 77%2,631$125,179$1,054,000$822 cheaper homes ($169K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Fall City, WA 98024 77%766$160,641$1,107,100$473 cheaper homes ($116K less) · smaller · younger residents
Vashon, WA 98070 77%757$120,571$790,700$530 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($432K less) · larger
Middleburg, VA 20117 76%2,387$146,120$937,100$395 cheaper homes ($286K less) · smaller
Honolulu, HI 96821 76%2,400$174,938$1,563,300$931 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($341K more) · larger
Isle Of Palms, SC 29451 75%2,380$156,979$1,581,300$975 pricier homes ($359K more) · more homeowners · newer homes
Belleair Beach, FL 33786 75%2,332$163,125$1,053,000$593 cheaper homes ($170K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Mattapoisett, MA 02739 74%2,714$130,241$681,600$430 cheaper homes ($541K less)
Watchung, NJ 07069 74%2,540$171,705$883,300$405 cheaper homes ($339K less) · younger residents
Beach Haven, NJ 08008 74%2,565$120,054$1,165,400$1,112 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($57K less) · older residents
Montauk, NY 11954 74%2,664$142,961$1,356,600$1,185 pricier homes ($134K more) · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
East Norwich, NY 11732 72%2,585$148,965$780,800$545 cheaper homes ($442K less) · smaller · younger residents
Zephyr Cove, NV 89448 72%202$137,586$1,369,100$833 pricier homes ($147K more) · smaller · older residents
North Hampton, NH 03862 70%2,700$144,583$670,400$496 cheaper homes ($552K less) · newer homes
Saint James, NY 11780 70%2,604$144,577$723,200$466 cheaper homes ($499K less) · larger · younger residents
Rowley, MA 01969 69%2,698$132,734$667,300$375 cheaper homes ($555K less) · younger residents

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.