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 Hanalei, HI 96714

Hanalei: median income $132,448, home value $1,209,000, $2,200/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Geyserville, CA 95441 66%2,443$126,806$1,282,300— pricier homes ($73K more) · older residents
Montauk, NY 11954 63%5,108$142,961$1,356,600$1,185 pricier homes ($148K more) · larger · more homeowners
Point Arena, CA 95468 63%2,410$115,955$489,900— cheaper homes ($719K less)
Pescadero, CA 94060 59%2,442$127,973$1,401,500$838 pricier homes ($193K more) · 7 min longer commute · more homeowners
Snowmass, CO 81654 57%3,285$141,111$1,122,000$1,462 cheaper homes ($87K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Bodega Bay, CA 94923 57%2,427$147,546$1,186,500$910 older residents · more homeowners
Capistrano Beach, CA 92624 56%2,656$140,666$1,226,200$1,085 larger · 7 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Saint Helena, CA 94574 53%2,461$139,474$1,637,800$1,017 pricier homes ($429K more) · larger · older residents
Gallatin Gateway, MT 59730 52%3,141$98,305$1,014,200$801 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($195K less) · larger
Modena, NY 12548 49%4,989$132,083$428,800— cheaper homes ($780K less) · more homeowners
Santa Barbara, CA 93109 49%2,548$123,347$1,882,500$1,451 pricier homes ($674K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Alviso, CA 95002 49%2,466$121,953$1,080,800— cheaper homes ($128K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Sag Harbor, NY 11963 47%5,091$127,746$1,208,000$1,004 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Santa Ynez, CA 93460 47%2,530$114,139$1,205,900$677 larger · 5 min longer commute
Nantucket, MA 02554 46%5,196$140,938$1,595,700$1,581 pricier homes ($387K more) · larger · more homeowners
Minturn, CO 81645 45%3,319$102,039$1,089,600$847 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($119K less) · smaller
East Hampton, NY 11937 44%5,097$129,883$1,115,100$875 cheaper homes ($94K less) · larger · older residents
Jackson, WY 83001 43%3,137$124,717$1,669,100$1,299 pricier homes ($460K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Angwin, CA 94508 43%2,463$116,667$775,600$784 cheaper homes ($433K less) · larger · younger residents
Westhampton Beach, NY 11978 42%5,076$125,179$1,054,000$822 cheaper homes ($155K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
The Plains, VA 20198 42%4,846$106,518$933,000$521 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($276K less)
Basalt, CO 81621 42%3,287$104,754$1,136,600$1,250 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger
Wilson, WY 83014 42%3,131$140,473$2M+*$1,274 pricier homes ($791K more) · larger · older residents
Santa Barbara, CA 93111 42%2,544$144,353$1,296,700$1,017 pricier homes ($88K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Big Sur, CA 93920 42%2,462$76,542$1,906,300$3,679 lower income ($56K less) · pricier homes ($697K more) · 6 min shorter commute

* The Census Bureau doesn’t publish exact figures above $250,000 for household income, $2,000,000 for home values or $3,500 for monthly rent; it reports them as “or more.”

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.