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 Eleele, HI 96705

Eleele: median income $118,438, home value $777,200, $788/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pala, CA 92059 75%2,700$99,803$561,500$498 cheaper homes ($216K less) · smaller · younger residents
Santa Ynez, CA 93460 75%2,541$114,139$1,205,900$677 pricier homes ($429K more) · larger
Acampo, CA 95220 75%2,532$114,637$706,600$434 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger · less walkable
San Miguel, CA 93451 74%2,528$98,188$652,900$416 cheaper homes ($124K less) · larger
Aromas, CA 95004 73%2,487$130,744$877,300$600 pricier homes ($100K more) · larger · older residents
Oak View, CA 93022 69%2,582$110,405$816,800$601 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · older residents
Piru, CA 93040 69%2,611$94,556$624,300— cheaper homes ($153K less) · younger residents · 8 min longer commute
North Bonneville, WA 98639 68%2,673$100,417$445,900$493 cheaper homes ($331K less) · smaller
Pescadero, CA 94060 67%2,453$127,973$1,401,500$838 pricier homes ($624K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Coalville, UT 84017 66%3,086$95,900$620,500$364 cheaper homes ($157K less) · larger
Nipomo, CA 93444 66%2,522$110,867$816,000$507 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
Banner, WY 82832 65%3,357$94,375$895,100$452 pricier homes ($118K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Linden, CA 95236 65%2,537$104,703$650,500$378 cheaper homes ($127K less) · larger · more renters
Point Arena, CA 95468 65%2,423$115,955$489,900— cheaper homes ($287K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Mount Hood Parkdale, OR 97041 65%2,685$82,679$705,600$416 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($72K less) · older residents
Collbran, CO 81624 64%3,249$91,739$472,600$431 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($305K less) · smaller
Hayden, CO 81639 64%3,293$110,404$443,600$354 cheaper homes ($334K less)
Templeton, CA 93465 64%2,517$129,259$870,100$579 pricier homes ($93K more) · larger
Bellevue, ID 83313 63%2,978$74,575$578,000$516 lower income ($44K less) · cheaper homes ($199K less)
Alpine, CA 91901 63%2,714$114,167$852,000$456 pricier homes ($75K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Bonsall, CA 92003 63%2,692$113,216$926,700$451 pricier homes ($150K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Salinas, CA 93907 63%2,483$104,942$750,100$484 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Modena, NY 12548 62%5,001$132,083$428,800— cheaper homes ($348K less) · smaller
Custer, WA 98240 62%2,750$110,116$619,700$340 cheaper homes ($158K less) · more homeowners
Big Pine Key, FL 33043 61%4,896$110,491$638,000$651 cheaper homes ($139K 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.