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 Carpinteria, CA 93013

Carpinteria: median income $110,359, home value $1,153,600, $1,089/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
San Clemente, CA 92672 87%128$111,989$1,438,800$978 pricier homes ($285K more) · larger
Santa Barbara, CA 93110 82%14$129,209$1,199,500$987 pricier homes ($46K more) · 9 min shorter commute
Santa Cruz, CA 95062 82%225$112,106$1,076,500$904 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger · more walkable
Carlsbad, CA 92008 81%152$104,995$1,229,400$891 pricier homes ($76K more) · larger · more renters
Huntington Beach, CA 92649 81%96$123,257$1,131,500$810 larger · 7 min longer commute · more walkable
Novato, CA 94949 80%304$120,758$1,150,500$576 5 min longer commute
Soquel, CA 95073 80%226$118,169$1,062,800$699 cheaper homes ($91K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Capistrano Beach, CA 92624 79%125$140,666$1,226,200$1,085 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($73K more) · smaller
San Bruno, CA 94066 79%276$141,272$1,207,500$927 higher income ($31K more) · pricier homes ($54K more) · larger
South San Francisco, CA 94080 79%277$136,733$1,188,700$848 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Calistoga, CA 94515 79%335$94,464$824,900$797 cheaper homes ($329K less) · smaller
Lahaina, HI 96761 79%2,440$101,123$995,800$849 cheaper homes ($158K less)
Burbank, CA 91504 78%69$103,835$1,099,600$749 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · younger residents
San Rafael, CA 94901 78%298$115,330$1,512,600$730 pricier homes ($359K more) · larger
Kihei, HI 96753 78%2,434$88,408$1,033,600$830 cheaper homes ($120K less) · larger · newer homes
Santa Ana, CA 92705 77%109$129,331$1,203,400$713 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger · younger residents
Pismo Beach, CA 93449 77%83$118,072$1,021,300$777 cheaper homes ($132K less) · smaller · older residents
Oxnard, CA 93035 76%23$106,611$801,600$598 cheaper homes ($352K less) · larger
Daly City, CA 94015 76%280$127,056$1,165,500$766 larger
Aiea, HI 96701 76%2,494$111,173$941,600$542 cheaper homes ($212K less) · larger
Koloa, HI 96756 76%2,563$99,274$969,800$1,130 cheaper homes ($184K less) · smaller · less walkable
Honolulu, HI 96816 76%2,490$114,609$1,168,800$730 larger · more single-family homes · more walkable
Arcadia, CA 91007 75%86$100,705$1,277,900$668 pricier homes ($124K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Laguna Hills, CA 92653 75%118$133,194$1,063,300$666 cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger
Santa Barbara, CA 93103 75%10$122,159$1,663,600$1,148 pricier homes ($510K more) · 7 min shorter commute · more renters

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.

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