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 Kapaa, HI 96746

Kapaa: median income $88,802, home value $882,400, $727/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ojai, CA 93023 84%2,565$80,927$911,400$774 pricier homes ($29K more) · more walkable
Arroyo Grande, CA 93420 82%2,506$110,553$917,900$572 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · more walkable
Nipomo, CA 93444 82%2,503$110,867$816,000$507 cheaper homes ($66K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Bonita, CA 91902 79%2,679$122,524$984,900$532 higher income ($34K more) · pricier homes ($103K more)
Key Largo, FL 33037 78%4,925$86,533$683,000$582 cheaper homes ($199K less) · older residents
Calistoga, CA 94515 78%2,448$94,464$824,900$797 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller · more renters
Napa, CA 94558 78%2,463$113,269$890,500$550 larger
Tavernier, FL 33070 77%4,922$75,436$732,800$797 cheaper homes ($150K less) · smaller · older residents
Atascadero, CA 93422 77%2,499$91,780$737,600$438 cheaper homes ($145K less) · larger · younger residents
Alpine, CA 91901 76%2,695$114,167$852,000$456 higher income ($25K more) · cheaper homes ($30K less) · younger residents
Anacortes, WA 98221 76%2,716$96,528$713,100$419 cheaper homes ($169K less)
Santa Ynez, CA 93460 75%2,521$114,139$1,205,900$677 higher income ($25K more) · pricier homes ($324K more) · smaller
Paso Robles, CA 93446 74%2,499$97,943$707,500$431 cheaper homes ($175K less) · larger · younger residents
Sebastopol, CA 95472 74%2,431$108,925$1,020,100$619 pricier homes ($138K more)
Buena Vista, CO 81211 73%3,322$88,083$677,400$409 cheaper homes ($205K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
El Cajon, CA 92019 73%2,685$101,973$801,400$520 cheaper homes ($81K less) · larger · younger residents
Kennebunkport, ME 04046 72%5,130$102,529$586,100$434 cheaper homes ($296K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Whitefish, MT 59937 72%3,058$75,428$698,200$567 cheaper homes ($184K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Salinas, CA 93907 72%2,463$104,942$750,100$484 cheaper homes ($132K less) · younger residents
Healdsburg, CA 95448 72%2,435$105,120$1,048,300$701 pricier homes ($166K more) · 7 min shorter commute · more walkable
Auburn, CA 95603 72%2,532$85,357$650,500$369 cheaper homes ($232K less) · more walkable
Sagle, ID 83860 71%2,959$71,563$597,500$482 cheaper homes ($285K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Sonoma, CA 95476 71%2,448$105,374$896,900$609 larger · more walkable
Auburn, CA 95602 71%2,533$97,466$688,500$339 cheaper homes ($194K less) · more homeowners
East Quogue, NY 11942 70%5,072$93,710$844,100$675 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller · 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.