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 Kapolei, HI 96707

Kapolei: median income $119,940, home value $808,300, $598/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chula Vista, CA 91913 91%2,630$129,337$812,200$458 Very close on everything we compare
Oceanside, CA 92057 89%2,617$108,814$743,200$477 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Oceanside, CA 92056 86%2,618$106,272$773,200$555 cheaper homes ($35K less) · older homes
Canyon Country, CA 91387 84%2,566$117,969$756,600$408 cheaper homes ($52K less) · less walkable
San Marcos, CA 92078 83%2,623$120,268$942,300$530 pricier homes ($134K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Escondido, CA 92026 82%2,628$104,561$714,300$468 cheaper homes ($94K less) · 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Santee, CA 92071 82%2,632$113,618$728,900$526 cheaper homes ($79K less) · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Chula Vista, CA 91915 81%2,632$139,503$781,500$456 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Everett, WA 98208 80%2,702$103,705$691,500$388 cheaper homes ($117K less) · 5 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
El Cajon, CA 92019 79%2,635$101,973$801,400$520 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Corona, CA 92882 79%2,606$104,457$690,700$435 cheaper homes ($118K less) · more single-family homes · older homes
Gilroy, CA 95020 79%2,434$137,117$1,059,100$531 pricier homes ($251K more) · more single-family homes · older homes
Lynnwood, WA 98037 79%2,697$107,281$767,300$393 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller · older homes
Renton, WA 98056 79%2,689$113,688$797,300$467 more renters
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 78%3,225$109,129$798,900$438 smaller · older homes
San Marcos, CA 92069 78%2,624$96,771$800,700$493 6 min shorter commute · more renters · older homes
Auburn, WA 98092 78%2,685$122,300$635,900$324 cheaper homes ($172K less) · more single-family homes
Vista, CA 92084 77%2,621$98,577$824,400$470 older homes
Temecula, CA 92591 77%2,629$114,160$690,600$359 cheaper homes ($118K less) · more single-family homes
American Canyon, CA 94503 77%2,422$121,088$697,400$385 cheaper homes ($111K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739 76%2,614$143,265$895,000$416 pricier homes ($87K more) · more single-family homes
Ontario, CA 91761 76%2,607$100,578$635,000$385 cheaper homes ($173K less) · more single-family homes · older homes
Fallbrook, CA 92028 76%2,622$111,290$842,500$426 pricier homes ($34K more) · more single-family homes · older homes
Lakeside, CA 92040 76%2,635$107,937$723,200$496 cheaper homes ($85K less) · 8 min shorter commute · older homes
Hayward, CA 94545 76%2,419$114,356$879,400$590 pricier homes ($71K more) · older homes

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.