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 Waimea, HI 96796

Waimea: median income $89,205, home value $769,700, $627/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Santa Margarita, CA 93453 76%2,542$78,288$710,000$721 cheaper homes ($60K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Calistoga, CA 94515 76%2,470$94,464$824,900$797 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger · more walkable
Crows Landing, CA 95313 71%2,530$90,018$428,100— cheaper homes ($342K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Stateline, NV 89449 69%2,616$83,988$1,065,700$627 pricier homes ($296K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Durham, CA 95938 69%2,532$82,974$611,700$368 cheaper homes ($158K less) · larger · more homeowners
Mount Hood Parkdale, OR 97041 69%2,686$82,679$705,600$416 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger · more homeowners
North Bonneville, WA 98639 68%2,674$100,417$445,900$493 cheaper homes ($324K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Greenport, NY 11944 66%5,100$85,298$885,800$535 pricier homes ($116K more) · larger · older residents
Sparkill, NY 10976 65%5,023$85,893$651,800$423 cheaper homes ($118K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Kittery, ME 03904 63%5,144$85,084$448,900$448 cheaper homes ($321K less) · larger · more homeowners
Southwest Harbor, ME 04679 62%5,237$59,205$428,500$456 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($341K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Washington Depot, CT 06794 62%5,042$96,979$733,100$431 cheaper homes ($37K less) · more homeowners
Bellevue, ID 83313 62%2,980$74,575$578,000$516 cheaper homes ($192K less) · larger · more homeowners
Linden, CA 95236 62%2,540$104,703$650,500$378 cheaper homes ($119K less) · larger · younger residents
Forestville, CA 95436 62%2,452$109,531$739,600$591 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · more homeowners
Chelan, WA 98816 62%2,822$82,577$499,200$421 cheaper homes ($271K less) · larger · more homeowners
Hopland, CA 95449 60%2,453$90,469$640,600$346 cheaper homes ($129K less) · younger residents · 10 min longer commute
Kings Beach, CA 96143 60%2,615$69,922$795,300$622 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · more homeowners
Marathon, FL 33050 59%4,919$94,898$747,300$686 larger · 8 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Chualar, CA 93925 59%2,496$72,604$679,300— cheaper homes ($90K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Ferndale, CA 95536 59%2,430$73,375$566,000$336 cheaper homes ($204K less) · larger · older residents
Cannon Beach, OR 97110 59%2,596$68,500$790,400$624 smaller · older residents
Peshastin, WA 98847 59%2,789$68,814$380,100$359 cheaper homes ($390K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Lakeside, MT 59922 58%3,075$87,237$657,500$298 cheaper homes ($112K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Santa Ynez, CA 93460 58%2,544$114,139$1,205,900$677 pricier homes ($436K more) · larger · 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.