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 Kula, HI 96790

Kula: median income $100,693, home value $1,037,700, $897/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Santa Ynez, CA 93460 78%2,400$114,139$1,205,900$677 pricier homes ($168K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Aromas, CA 95004 75%2,359$130,744$877,300$600 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($160K less) · smaller
Ben Lomond, CA 95005 74%2,340$104,375$967,300$570 cheaper homes ($70K less) · more walkable · older homes
Pescadero, CA 94060 72%2,328$127,973$1,401,500$838 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($364K more) · smaller
Hampton Bays, NY 11946 71%4,978$133,918$737,400$659 higher income ($33K more) · cheaper homes ($300K less) · larger
Boulder Creek, CA 95006 71%2,339$102,167$843,200$521 cheaper homes ($195K less) · 5 min longer commute · older homes
Bonita, CA 91902 70%2,545$122,524$984,900$532 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
San Juan Bautista, CA 95045 70%2,363$110,438$896,700$410 cheaper homes ($141K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Gallatin Gateway, MT 59730 69%3,058$98,305$1,014,200$801 smaller · younger residents · newer homes
Alpine, CA 91901 69%2,562$114,167$852,000$456 cheaper homes ($186K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
East Quogue, NY 11942 68%4,976$93,710$844,100$675 cheaper homes ($194K less) · smaller · older residents
Nipomo, CA 93444 68%2,384$110,867$816,000$507 cheaper homes ($222K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
San Martin, CA 95046 68%2,365$158,550$1,477,900$789 higher income ($58K more) · pricier homes ($440K more) · smaller
The Plains, VA 20198 67%4,732$106,518$933,000$521 cheaper homes ($105K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Bonsall, CA 92003 67%2,542$113,216$926,700$451 cheaper homes ($111K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Templeton, CA 93465 67%2,381$129,259$870,100$579 higher income ($29K more) · cheaper homes ($168K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Bow, WA 98232 65%2,681$104,559$782,200$529 cheaper homes ($256K less) · smaller · older residents
Penngrove, CA 94951 64%2,341$106,332$1,207,000$543 pricier homes ($169K more) · smaller · more walkable
Acampo, CA 95220 64%2,410$114,637$706,600$434 cheaper homes ($331K less) · 5 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Forestville, CA 95436 64%2,332$109,531$739,600$591 cheaper homes ($298K less) · smaller · 10 min shorter commute
East Hampton, NY 11937 63%4,994$129,883$1,115,100$875 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($77K more) · larger
Oak View, CA 93022 63%2,439$110,405$816,800$601 cheaper homes ($221K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Linden, CA 95236 63%2,415$104,703$650,500$378 cheaper homes ($387K less) · smaller
Sebastopol, CA 95472 63%2,333$108,925$1,020,100$619 larger · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Vashon, WA 98070 62%2,637$120,571$790,700$530 cheaper homes ($247K less) · older residents · 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.