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 Honolulu, HI 96819

Honolulu: median income $99,848, home value $954,600, $477/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chula Vista, CA 91910 92%2,613$90,222$741,200$499 cheaper homes ($213K less) · larger
Garden Grove, CA 92840 90%2,575$98,881$789,700$613 cheaper homes ($165K less)
Salinas, CA 93901 90%2,412$91,233$788,300$513 cheaper homes ($166K less) · smaller
Canoga Park, CA 91304 89%2,541$90,007$886,400$504 cheaper homes ($68K less) · 6 min longer commute
Lakewood, CA 90715 88%2,567$91,875$743,200$567 cheaper homes ($211K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Santa Ana, CA 92706 88%2,577$102,857$893,700$694 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Santa Rosa, CA 95401 88%2,392$93,615$630,900$479 cheaper homes ($324K less)
El Cajon, CA 92020 87%2,620$76,032$813,100$522 cheaper homes ($142K less)
Escondido, CA 92025 87%2,617$81,106$827,900$479 cheaper homes ($127K less)
Santa Ana, CA 92704 87%2,575$99,777$700,200$634 cheaper homes ($254K less) · larger
Hayward, CA 94544 87%2,409$107,785$827,200$599 cheaper homes ($127K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
San Jose, CA 95116 87%2,415$85,818$860,900$635 cheaper homes ($94K less)
Vista, CA 92084 86%2,609$98,577$824,400$470 cheaper homes ($130K less) · 5 min longer commute
San Diego, CA 92139 86%2,614$95,653$630,800$507 cheaper homes ($324K less)
Ventura, CA 93003 86%2,507$103,761$816,300$535 cheaper homes ($138K less)
Santa Rosa, CA 95403 86%2,393$98,191$693,000$446 cheaper homes ($262K less) · newer homes
Downey, CA 90242 85%2,564$89,075$761,000$600 cheaper homes ($194K less) · 6 min longer commute
Winnetka, CA 91306 85%2,543$93,151$800,000$518 cheaper homes ($155K less) · 6 min longer commute
North Hills, CA 91343 85%2,549$81,430$823,700$480 cheaper homes ($131K less) · 7 min longer commute
Westminster, CA 92683 85%2,570$85,585$858,300$640 cheaper homes ($96K less) · larger · more walkable
Garden Grove, CA 92843 85%2,574$81,446$747,000$596 cheaper homes ($208K less)
Napa, CA 94559 85%2,412$105,188$898,600$586 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller
San Leandro, CA 94578 85%2,408$94,084$823,000$567 cheaper homes ($132K less) · 8 min longer commute
San Jose, CA 95122 85%2,415$103,549$872,900$747 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Lawndale, CA 90260 84%2,552$87,825$801,800$592 cheaper homes ($153K less) · smaller · more walkable

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.