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 Lihue, HI 96766

Lihue: median income $100,678, home value $793,000, $733/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Marathon, FL 33050 82%4,900$94,898$747,300$686 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller · older residents
Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546 79%2,632$105,577$737,600$640 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller · more walkable
Lakeside, CA 92040 78%2,690$107,937$723,200$496 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Camarillo, CA 93010 78%2,580$111,176$867,100$495 pricier homes ($74K more) · larger
Atascadero, CA 93422 77%2,504$91,780$737,600$438 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Santa Rosa, CA 95403 77%2,443$98,191$693,000$446 cheaper homes ($100K less) · larger · more renters
Silverthorne, CO 80498 76%3,328$105,897$824,200$614 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Santa Rosa, CA 95401 76%2,442$93,615$630,900$479 cheaper homes ($162K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Durango, CO 81303 74%3,223$88,103$597,300$403 cheaper homes ($196K less) · smaller
Hailey, ID 83333 73%2,963$99,704$744,200$566 cheaper homes ($49K less) · more single-family homes · more walkable
El Cajon, CA 92019 73%2,690$101,973$801,400$520 larger · 10 min longer commute · more walkable
Vista, CA 92081 73%2,674$105,379$838,600$519 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Spring Valley, CA 91978 72%2,687$113,170$637,200$504 cheaper homes ($156K less) · smaller · 10 min longer commute
Oxnard, CA 93035 72%2,570$106,611$801,600$598 larger · 9 min longer commute · more walkable
Hood River, OR 97031 72%2,679$91,858$691,200$409 cheaper homes ($102K less) · more walkable
Lynden, WA 98264 72%2,744$103,638$609,100$341 cheaper homes ($184K less)
Escondido, CA 92026 71%2,682$104,561$714,300$468 cheaper homes ($79K less) · larger · 11 min longer commute
Arroyo Grande, CA 93420 71%2,511$110,553$917,900$572 pricier homes ($125K more) · larger · older residents
Napa, CA 94558 71%2,468$113,269$890,500$550 pricier homes ($98K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Gypsum, CO 81637 70%3,288$109,209$616,200$397 cheaper homes ($177K less) · smaller · younger residents
San Marcos, CA 92069 70%2,678$96,771$800,700$493 larger · 9 min longer commute · more walkable
Nipomo, CA 93444 70%2,508$110,867$816,000$507 10 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Calistoga, CA 94515 70%2,454$94,464$824,900$797 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller · older residents
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 70%2,595$92,517$707,500$467 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 69%3,268$109,129$798,900$438 11 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.