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 Honolulu, HI 96816

Honolulu: median income $114,609, home value $1,168,800, $730/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fountain Valley, CA 92708 94%2,570$115,237$1,072,300$699 cheaper homes ($97K less)
Torrance, CA 90504 92%2,550$107,552$923,900$714 cheaper homes ($245K less) · smaller
Santa Ana, CA 92705 91%2,580$129,331$1,203,400$713 pricier homes ($35K more) · younger residents
San Diego, CA 92117 90%2,605$103,661$981,200$819 cheaper homes ($188K less) · younger residents
Petaluma, CA 94952 90%2,390$117,343$1,041,100$656 cheaper homes ($128K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 89%2,524$119,296$937,000$551 cheaper homes ($232K less)
Huntington Beach, CA 92646 89%2,569$130,672$1,076,500$786 cheaper homes ($92K less)
Santa Cruz, CA 95062 88%2,398$112,106$1,076,500$904 cheaper homes ($92K less)
San Rafael, CA 94901 87%2,392$115,330$1,512,600$730 pricier homes ($344K more)
San Rafael, CA 94903 87%2,390$142,083$1,197,300$722 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Novato, CA 94947 87%2,391$128,766$1,017,600$602 cheaper homes ($151K less) · smaller
Torrance, CA 90505 86%2,549$115,593$1,204,300$820 pricier homes ($36K more) · 6 min longer commute
Los Alamitos, CA 90720 86%2,565$135,851$1,215,400$740 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Pasadena, CA 91107 86%2,567$126,449$1,155,300$793 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Burbank, CA 91506 86%2,554$105,955$1,096,000$785 cheaper homes ($73K less) · smaller · older homes
La Mesa, CA 91941 86%2,615$115,381$928,700$525 cheaper homes ($240K less) · smaller · younger residents
San Diego, CA 92119 86%2,614$113,435$879,200$605 cheaper homes ($290K less) · smaller
South San Francisco, CA 94080 86%2,390$136,733$1,188,700$848 less walkable
Santa Rosa, CA 95404 86%2,392$105,437$903,900$522 cheaper homes ($265K less)
Arcadia, CA 91006 85%2,571$123,533$1,260,000$688 pricier homes ($91K more) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Placentia, CA 92870 85%2,577$115,929$921,000$604 cheaper homes ($248K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Cypress, CA 90630 84%2,566$130,154$909,700$602 cheaper homes ($259K less) · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
San Gabriel, CA 91775 84%2,567$118,610$1,092,700$782 cheaper homes ($76K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Arcadia, CA 91007 83%2,569$100,705$1,277,900$668 pricier homes ($109K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Mission Viejo, CA 92691 83%2,585$141,045$985,100$674 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($184K less) · 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.