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 Cruz, CA 95065

Santa Cruz: median income $153,222, home value $1,228,500, $674/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Montauk, NY 11954 84%2,664$142,961$1,356,600$1,185 pricier homes ($128K more) · smaller
East Hampton, NY 11937 82%2,652$129,883$1,115,100$875 cheaper homes ($113K less) · larger
Westhampton Beach, NY 11978 81%2,630$125,179$1,054,000$822 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($175K less) · smaller
Woodinville, WA 98072 80%743$175,805$1,122,200$544 cheaper homes ($106K less) · larger
Oyster Bay, NY 11771 79%2,585$157,923$936,300$484 cheaper homes ($292K less) · 7 min longer commute · older homes
Bedford, MA 01730 78%2,680$172,400$898,500$496 cheaper homes ($330K less) · larger
North Bend, WA 98045 78%723$175,765$938,500$494 cheaper homes ($290K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Essex, MA 01929 77%2,703$156,442$902,000$416 cheaper homes ($327K less) · smaller
Southampton, NY 11968 77%2,642$156,219$1,326,600$963 pricier homes ($98K more) · larger · older residents
Incline Village, NV 89451 77%191$166,509$1,461,200$763 pricier homes ($233K more) · 7 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Burlington, MA 01803 76%2,684$146,436$740,600$441 cheaper homes ($488K less) · larger
Kenmore, WA 98028 76%743$139,764$920,800$474 cheaper homes ($308K less) · larger
Salisbury, CT 06068 75%2,577$123,552$842,200$461 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($386K less) · smaller
Sayville, NY 11782 75%2,609$147,672$637,300$507 cheaper homes ($591K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Southold, NY 11971 75%2,639$129,507$843,300$587 cheaper homes ($385K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Park Ridge, NJ 07656 74%2,556$171,029$706,200$429 cheaper homes ($522K less)
Oakhurst, NJ 07755 74%2,567$134,338$768,400$582 cheaper homes ($460K less) · more single-family homes · older homes
Carbondale, CO 81623 74%817$109,661$913,300$681 lower income ($44K less) · cheaper homes ($315K less) · larger
Kalaheo, HI 96741 74%2,466$110,873$953,200$696 lower income ($42K less) · cheaper homes ($275K less)
Saint James, NY 11780 73%2,603$144,577$723,200$466 cheaper homes ($505K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Mukilteo, WA 98275 73%754$132,861$884,900$418 cheaper homes ($344K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Northvale, NJ 07647 72%2,562$128,542$602,800$451 cheaper homes ($626K less) · smaller
Sag Harbor, NY 11963 72%2,646$127,746$1,208,000$1,004 lower income ($25K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Bellevue, WA 98008 72%733$184,583$1,206,200$671 higher income ($31K more) · larger · more walkable
Edmonds, WA 98020 72%746$130,319$1,031,500$625 cheaper homes ($197K less) · larger · older 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.