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.

Reset

Towns most like Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Santa Barbara: median income $90,148, home value $1,184,000, $1,083/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Redwood City, CA 94063 81%254$116,760$1,042,500$1,007 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($142K less) · 7 min longer commute
San Jose, CA 95112 80%236$89,103$974,300$686 cheaper homes ($210K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
San Diego, CA 92104 79%188$94,014$914,700$761 cheaper homes ($269K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
San Diego, CA 92116 79%188$98,154$940,700$925 cheaper homes ($243K less) · 5 min longer commute
Costa Mesa, CA 92627 78%116$108,994$1,125,600$866 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
San Jose, CA 95117 76%236$116,348$1,520,700$874 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($337K more) · 7 min longer commute
Goleta, CA 93117 74%9$90,037$1,082,400$821 cheaper homes ($102K less) · larger · younger residents
Glendale, CA 91201 71%83$82,301$1,152,000$711 cheaper homes ($32K less) · older residents · 9 min longer commute
Costa Mesa, CA 92626 71%115$114,249$1,105,900$835 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Oceanside, CA 92054 70%159$82,408$908,900$772 cheaper homes ($275K less) · older residents · 9 min longer commute
San Diego, CA 92110 70%184$110,790$1,006,800$631 cheaper homes ($177K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
San Diego, CA 92102 69%190$77,248$750,000$688 cheaper homes ($434K less) · 6 min longer commute
Orange, CA 92866 68%115$79,886$922,400$811 cheaper homes ($262K less) · smaller · 8 min longer commute
San Diego, CA 92107 67%183$113,117$1,379,900$964 pricier homes ($196K more) · more homeowners
Tustin, CA 92780 67%118$101,017$861,700$621 cheaper homes ($322K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
San Mateo, CA 94401 67%262$122,227$1,184,500$789 higher income ($32K more) · 9 min longer commute · more homeowners
Glendale, CA 91206 64%86$89,188$1,090,600$686 cheaper homes ($93K less) · older residents · 9 min longer commute
Monterey, CA 93940 64%192$106,044$1,099,300$725 cheaper homes ($85K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Los Angeles, CA 90027 63%84$94,521$1,776,400$869 pricier homes ($592K more) · older residents · 12 min longer commute
Santa Monica, CA 90404 63%76$95,139$1,244,400$819 pricier homes ($60K more) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Pasadena, CA 91106 63%92$90,028$1,040,400$734 cheaper homes ($144K less) · older residents · 9 min longer commute
Glendale, CA 91202 63%84$96,459$1,194,700$729 older residents · 8 min longer commute · more homeowners
Los Angeles, CA 90034 62%79$105,701$1,516,600$909 pricier homes ($333K more) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Hawthorne, CA 90250 62%85$78,331$874,600$722 cheaper homes ($309K less) · larger · 11 min longer commute
Torrance, CA 90501 62%90$92,923$923,100$611 cheaper homes ($261K less) · older residents · 8 min longer commute

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.

From OfferBacked · Free

Get matched with a local agent.

Buying or selling around Columbus, OH? Tell us what you need and when. No agents advertise here yet, so we’ll keep your request for up to 30 days and send it to local agents who join. No obligation, and you choose who to work with.

Get matched