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 Laie, HI 96762

Laie: median income $125,645, home value $944,500, $740/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
San Diego, CA 92123 68%2,605$132,534$865,600$626 cheaper homes ($79K less) · larger · older residents
San Diego, CA 92110 66%2,601$110,790$1,006,800$631 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger · older residents
San Diego, CA 92124 65%2,608$120,201$918,500$578 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · older residents
Goleta, CA 93117 64%2,468$90,037$1,082,400$821 lower income ($36K less) · pricier homes ($138K more) · larger
Waltham, MA 02452 63%5,063$118,431$808,300$429 cheaper homes ($136K less) · larger · older residents
Redwood City, CA 94063 60%2,391$116,760$1,042,500$1,007 pricier homes ($98K more) · larger · older residents
San Jose, CA 95110 60%2,404$131,491$998,900$777 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger · older residents
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 59%2,436$96,824$973,000$656 lower income ($29K less) · pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Irvine, CA 92606 57%2,574$135,598$1,141,100$788 pricier homes ($197K more) · larger · older residents
Marina, CA 93933 57%2,398$99,826$833,800$503 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($111K less) · larger
Avon, CO 81620 56%3,250$102,775$861,500$950 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger · older residents
San Mateo, CA 94401 56%2,387$122,227$1,184,500$789 pricier homes ($240K more) · larger · older residents
San Diego, CA 92116 55%2,606$98,154$940,700$925 lower income ($27K less) · larger · older residents
Costa Mesa, CA 92626 55%2,569$114,249$1,105,900$835 pricier homes ($161K more) · larger · older residents
Costa Mesa, CA 92627 55%2,569$108,994$1,125,600$866 pricier homes ($181K more) · larger · older residents
Santa Barbara, CA 93101 55%2,476$90,148$1,184,000$1,083 lower income ($35K less) · pricier homes ($240K more) · larger
San Jose, CA 95117 55%2,401$116,348$1,520,700$874 pricier homes ($576K more) · larger · older residents
Bellevue, WA 98007 55%2,674$131,109$1,018,100$543 pricier homes ($74K more) · larger · older residents
Irvine, CA 92614 54%2,574$122,821$1,076,700$822 pricier homes ($132K more) · larger · older residents
Tustin, CA 92780 54%2,575$101,017$861,700$621 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger · older residents
San Jose, CA 95126 54%2,403$128,983$1,214,300$744 pricier homes ($270K more) · larger · older residents
Elmsford, NY 10523 53%4,955$118,438$588,100$449 cheaper homes ($356K less) · larger · older residents
White Plains, NY 10606 53%4,957$112,270$682,300$492 cheaper homes ($262K less) · larger · older residents
Orange, CA 92868 53%2,572$97,500$762,000$545 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($183K less) · larger
San Diego, CA 92104 52%2,606$94,014$914,700$761 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger

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.