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 Kapaau, HI 96755

Kapaau: median income $96,813, home value $722,400, $648/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Beavercreek, OR 97004 85%2,565$112,667$721,300$425 more homeowners
Herald, CA 95638 84%2,411$91,500$713,600$369 Very close on everything we compare
Applegate, CA 95703 83%2,438$100,214$603,900$351 cheaper homes ($119K less)
Bow, WA 98232 82%2,692$104,559$782,200$529 pricier homes ($60K more) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Collbran, CO 81624 81%3,115$91,739$472,600$431 cheaper homes ($250K less) · smaller
Mountain Center, CA 92561 80%2,562$94,063$614,300$405 cheaper homes ($108K less) · smaller · younger residents
El Dorado, CA 95623 80%2,436$109,102$601,800$335 cheaper homes ($121K less)
Woodbridge, CA 95258 79%2,401$93,854$559,800$312 cheaper homes ($163K less)
Big Pine Key, FL 33043 77%4,705$110,491$638,000$651 cheaper homes ($84K less) · older residents · more walkable
Tetonia, ID 83452 77%3,027$72,083$565,800$602 cheaper homes ($157K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Olalla, WA 98359 77%2,641$114,091$610,500$388 cheaper homes ($112K less)
Homestead, FL 33031 76%4,744$109,945$497,400$375 cheaper homes ($225K less) · larger
San Juan Bautista, CA 95045 76%2,358$110,438$896,700$410 pricier homes ($174K more)
Elverta, CA 95626 76%2,408$90,897$467,000$344 cheaper homes ($255K less) · larger
Semora, NC 27343 75%4,679$79,931$518,800$465 cheaper homes ($204K less) · smaller
Oak View, CA 93022 75%2,429$110,405$816,800$601 pricier homes ($94K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Aromas, CA 95004 75%2,353$130,744$877,300$600 higher income ($34K more) · pricier homes ($155K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Acampo, CA 95220 75%2,406$114,637$706,600$434 larger · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Mulino, OR 97042 75%2,560$118,045$687,700$341 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Kennebunkport, ME 04046 74%5,041$102,529$586,100$434 cheaper homes ($136K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Banner, WY 82832 74%3,253$94,375$895,100$452 pricier homes ($173K more) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Gardnerville, NV 89460 74%2,499$92,292$501,700$368 cheaper homes ($221K less) · larger
Stevenson, WA 98648 74%2,603$96,696$555,500$380 cheaper homes ($167K less) · more walkable
Ennis, MT 59729 73%3,040$83,365$480,300$408 cheaper homes ($242K less) · newer homes
Boulder Creek, CA 95006 73%2,334$102,167$843,200$521 pricier homes ($121K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute

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.