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 Waialua, HI 96791

Waialua: median income $97,470, home value $977,400, $861/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Calistoga, CA 94515 85%2,407$94,464$824,900$797 cheaper homes ($153K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Sunland, CA 91040 79%2,563$98,256$861,600$623 cheaper homes ($116K less) · larger · older homes
Santa Ynez, CA 93460 75%2,471$114,139$1,205,900$677 pricier homes ($229K more) · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Ben Lomond, CA 95005 75%2,401$104,375$967,300$570 more single-family homes
Tujunga, CA 91042 74%2,566$85,603$840,800$636 cheaper homes ($137K less) · larger · more walkable
Oak View, CA 93022 73%2,511$110,405$816,800$601 cheaper homes ($161K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Gardena, CA 90248 72%2,562$91,176$724,300$597 cheaper homes ($253K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Ojai, CA 93023 72%2,514$80,927$911,400$774 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger · 10 min shorter commute
San Leandro, CA 94579 72%2,410$99,040$850,300$659 cheaper homes ($127K less) · larger · more walkable
Soquel, CA 95073 72%2,407$118,169$1,062,800$699 pricier homes ($85K more) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Buellton, CA 93427 71%2,464$102,857$867,500$567 cheaper homes ($110K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Solvang, CA 93463 71%2,465$118,488$1,114,500$639 pricier homes ($137K more) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
West Covina, CA 91791 70%2,586$102,266$843,600$508 cheaper homes ($134K less) · larger · more walkable
Spring Valley, CA 91978 70%2,627$113,170$637,200$504 cheaper homes ($340K less) · larger · younger residents
Oxnard, CA 93035 70%2,513$106,611$801,600$598 cheaper homes ($176K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
San Juan Bautista, CA 95045 70%2,426$110,438$896,700$410 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
La Verne, CA 91750 69%2,594$104,195$814,700$528 cheaper homes ($163K less) · larger · more walkable
San Dimas, CA 91773 69%2,591$105,338$800,700$515 cheaper homes ($177K less) · larger
Alpine, CA 91901 69%2,640$114,167$852,000$456 cheaper homes ($125K less) · larger · younger residents
Bonsall, CA 92003 69%2,619$113,216$926,700$451 cheaper homes ($51K less) · newer homes
Carpinteria, CA 93013 69%2,499$110,359$1,153,600$1,089 pricier homes ($176K more) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Capistrano Beach, CA 92624 68%2,593$140,666$1,226,200$1,085 higher income ($43K more) · pricier homes ($249K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Hayward, CA 94545 68%2,412$114,356$879,400$590 cheaper homes ($98K less) · larger · younger residents
Sonoma, CA 95476 68%2,406$105,374$896,900$609 cheaper homes ($81K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Seaside Heights, NJ 08751 67%4,971$77,448$628,500$569 cheaper homes ($349K less) · smaller · older residents

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.