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 Makawao, HI 96768

Makawao: median income $100,391, home value $946,700, $814/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Nipomo, CA 93444 85%2,380$110,867$816,000$507 cheaper homes ($131K less)
Santa Ynez, CA 93460 85%2,397$114,139$1,205,900$677 pricier homes ($259K more) · smaller
Bonita, CA 91902 81%2,542$122,524$984,900$532 pricier homes ($38K more) · more homeowners
Alpine, CA 91901 80%2,559$114,167$852,000$456 cheaper homes ($95K less)
Arroyo Grande, CA 93420 79%2,384$110,553$917,900$572 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Salinas, CA 93907 78%2,351$104,942$750,100$484 cheaper homes ($197K less) · younger residents
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91737 76%2,528$122,334$878,400$459 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Napa, CA 94558 76%2,360$113,269$890,500$550 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
El Cajon, CA 92019 75%2,549$101,973$801,400$520 cheaper homes ($145K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Sebastopol, CA 95472 75%2,329$108,925$1,020,100$619 pricier homes ($73K more) · larger · older residents
Atascadero, CA 93422 74%2,379$91,780$737,600$438 cheaper homes ($209K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Paso Robles, CA 93446 74%2,380$97,943$707,500$431 cheaper homes ($239K less) · larger
Calistoga, CA 94515 74%2,347$94,464$824,900$797 cheaper homes ($122K less) · smaller · older residents
Bonsall, CA 92003 73%2,540$113,216$926,700$451 smaller
Templeton, CA 93465 73%2,378$129,259$870,100$579 higher income ($29K more) · cheaper homes ($77K less) · smaller
Ben Lomond, CA 95005 73%2,336$104,375$967,300$570 smaller · 5 min longer commute · older homes
Soquel, CA 95073 73%2,342$118,169$1,062,800$699 pricier homes ($116K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Ripon, CA 95366 73%2,401$112,097$707,800$373 cheaper homes ($239K less)
Healdsburg, CA 95448 73%2,334$105,120$1,048,300$701 pricier homes ($102K more) · 10 min shorter commute · more walkable
Ojai, CA 93023 72%2,439$80,927$911,400$774 cheaper homes ($35K less) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Aromas, CA 95004 72%2,355$130,744$877,300$600 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller
Carbondale, CO 81623 71%3,156$109,661$913,300$681 cheaper homes ($33K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Fallbrook, CA 92028 71%2,538$111,290$842,500$426 cheaper homes ($104K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Escondido, CA 92029 71%2,542$124,726$985,500$497 pricier homes ($39K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Oak View, CA 93022 71%2,436$110,405$816,800$601 cheaper homes ($130K less) · smaller · more homeowners

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.