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.

Reset

Towns most like Lahaina, HI 96761

Lahaina: median income $101,123, home value $995,800, $849/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Carpinteria, CA 93013 79%2,440$110,359$1,153,600$1,089 pricier homes ($158K more)
Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546 78%2,531$105,577$737,600$640 cheaper homes ($258K less) · smaller · more walkable
Marathon, FL 33050 77%4,761$94,898$747,300$686 cheaper homes ($249K less) · smaller · older residents
Santa Barbara, CA 93110 72%2,427$129,209$1,199,500$987 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($204K more)
Santa Rosa, CA 95403 71%2,350$98,191$693,000$446 cheaper homes ($303K less) · larger
Silverthorne, CO 80498 70%3,228$105,897$824,200$614 cheaper homes ($172K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Avon, CO 81620 70%3,212$102,775$861,500$950 cheaper homes ($134K less) · smaller · younger residents
Dillon, CO 80435 69%3,240$97,463$941,600$927 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller · younger residents
Calistoga, CA 94515 69%2,361$94,464$824,900$797 cheaper homes ($171K less) · smaller · older residents
Vista, CA 92081 68%2,553$105,379$838,600$519 cheaper homes ($157K less) · 6 min longer commute · more single-family homes
San Diego, CA 92111 68%2,553$99,644$817,700$658 cheaper homes ($178K less) · larger · more walkable
Oxnard, CA 93035 68%2,454$106,611$801,600$598 cheaper homes ($194K less) · 7 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Santa Rosa, CA 95401 68%2,349$93,615$630,900$479 cheaper homes ($365K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Key West, FL 33040 67%4,719$86,586$819,400$824 cheaper homes ($176K less) · larger · more walkable
Lakeside, CA 92040 67%2,568$107,937$723,200$496 cheaper homes ($273K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Camarillo, CA 93010 67%2,464$111,176$867,100$495 cheaper homes ($129K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Breckenridge, CO 80424 66%3,236$120,907$1,034,600$830 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller · more homeowners
San Marcos, CA 92069 66%2,556$96,771$800,700$493 cheaper homes ($195K less) · larger · younger residents
Napa, CA 94559 66%2,369$105,188$898,600$586 cheaper homes ($97K less) · 5 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Steamboat Springs, CO 80487 65%3,201$109,659$1,055,900$750 pricier homes ($60K more) · more homeowners · newer homes
Edwards, CO 81632 64%3,206$83,712$904,400$790 cheaper homes ($91K less) · smaller · newer homes
Spring Valley, CA 91978 64%2,564$113,170$637,200$504 cheaper homes ($359K less) · smaller · 8 min longer commute
Escondido, CA 92026 63%2,561$104,561$714,300$468 cheaper homes ($282K less) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Ventura, CA 93001 63%2,448$88,078$859,100$755 cheaper homes ($137K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
El Cajon, CA 92019 62%2,567$101,973$801,400$520 cheaper homes ($194K less) · larger · 8 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.