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 Kahului, HI 96732

Kahului: median income $101,739, home value $864,300, $640/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Atascadero, CA 93422 87%2,386$91,780$737,600$438 cheaper homes ($127K less)
Napa, CA 94558 87%2,366$113,269$890,500$550 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Nipomo, CA 93444 84%2,387$110,867$816,000$507 cheaper homes ($48K less) · newer homes
Salinas, CA 93907 84%2,357$104,942$750,100$484 cheaper homes ($114K less) · younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Arroyo Grande, CA 93420 83%2,391$110,553$917,900$572 pricier homes ($54K more)
El Cajon, CA 92019 82%2,557$101,973$801,400$520 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger · more walkable
Lakeside, CA 92040 82%2,557$107,937$723,200$496 cheaper homes ($141K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Paso Robles, CA 93446 82%2,387$97,943$707,500$431 cheaper homes ($157K less) · larger
Bonita, CA 91902 81%2,550$122,524$984,900$532 pricier homes ($121K more) · smaller
Camarillo, CA 93010 81%2,454$111,176$867,100$495 larger
Alpine, CA 91901 78%2,567$114,167$852,000$456 smaller · 10 min longer commute
Acampo, CA 95220 77%2,413$114,637$706,600$434 cheaper homes ($158K less) · smaller · less walkable
Ripon, CA 95366 77%2,407$112,097$707,800$373 cheaper homes ($157K less) · newer homes
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 77%2,492$92,517$707,500$467 cheaper homes ($157K less) · more walkable
Escondido, CA 92026 76%2,551$104,561$714,300$468 cheaper homes ($150K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Santa Ynez, CA 93460 76%2,403$114,139$1,205,900$677 pricier homes ($342K more) · smaller
Santa Rosa, CA 95404 76%2,343$105,437$903,900$522 pricier homes ($40K more) · more walkable
Ojai, CA 93023 75%2,446$80,927$911,400$774 pricier homes ($47K more) · older residents
Auburn, CA 95603 75%2,437$85,357$650,500$369 cheaper homes ($214K less) · more walkable
Oxnard, CA 93035 74%2,444$106,611$801,600$598 cheaper homes ($63K less) · more apartments and townhomes · more walkable
Napa, CA 94559 74%2,361$105,188$898,600$586 pricier homes ($34K more) · more renters
Lodi, CA 95242 74%2,405$104,721$567,100$326 cheaper homes ($297K less)
Santa Rosa, CA 95401 74%2,341$93,615$630,900$479 cheaper homes ($233K less) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Cloverdale, CA 95425 74%2,337$119,092$653,200$440 cheaper homes ($211K less) · smaller · more walkable
Healdsburg, CA 95448 74%2,340$105,120$1,048,300$701 pricier homes ($184K more) · smaller · more walkable

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.