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 Holualoa, HI 96725

Holualoa: median income $93,346, home value $880,000, $586/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bonsall, CA 92003 87%2,557$113,216$926,700$451 pricier homes ($47K more) · 6 min longer commute
Santa Ynez, CA 93460 83%2,419$114,139$1,205,900$677 pricier homes ($326K more) · more walkable
The Plains, VA 20198 82%4,756$106,518$933,000$521 pricier homes ($53K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Aromas, CA 95004 82%2,385$130,744$877,300$600 higher income ($37K more)
Mount Hood Parkdale, OR 97041 82%2,647$82,679$705,600$416 cheaper homes ($174K less)
Manhattan, MT 59741 80%3,103$90,947$615,200$382 cheaper homes ($265K less) · more homeowners
Driggs, ID 83422 80%3,065$96,530$548,600$486 cheaper homes ($331K less) · newer homes
White Salmon, WA 98672 80%2,661$97,622$669,200$415 cheaper homes ($211K less) · more homeowners
Salisbury, CT 06068 79%4,946$123,552$842,200$461 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller
Durham, CA 95938 79%2,449$82,974$611,700$368 cheaper homes ($268K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Gallatin Gateway, MT 59730 78%3,095$98,305$1,014,200$801 pricier homes ($134K more) · smaller · younger residents
Buena Vista, CO 81211 78%3,235$88,083$677,400$409 cheaper homes ($203K less) · larger · older residents
Bonita, CA 91902 78%2,558$122,524$984,900$532 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($105K more) · larger
Nipomo, CA 93444 78%2,404$110,867$816,000$507 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger
Calistoga, CA 94515 78%2,381$94,464$824,900$797 cheaper homes ($55K less) · older residents · more walkable
Washington Depot, CT 06794 77%4,955$96,979$733,100$431 cheaper homes ($147K less) · smaller · older residents
Durango, CO 81303 77%3,122$88,103$597,300$403 cheaper homes ($283K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Templeton, CA 93465 77%2,403$129,259$870,100$579 higher income ($36K more) · larger · more homeowners
San Juan Bautista, CA 95045 77%2,389$110,438$896,700$410 11 min longer commute
Acampo, CA 95220 77%2,439$114,637$706,600$434 cheaper homes ($173K less) · larger
Blowing Rock, NC 28605 76%4,568$76,477$552,400$507 cheaper homes ($328K less)
Salida, CO 81201 76%3,239$80,248$674,000$428 cheaper homes ($206K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Soquel, CA 95073 76%2,371$118,169$1,062,800$699 pricier homes ($183K more) · larger · more walkable
Forestville, CA 95436 76%2,363$109,531$739,600$591 cheaper homes ($140K less) · older homes
Kennebunkport, ME 04046 75%5,075$102,529$586,100$434 cheaper homes ($294K 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.