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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 Santa Barbara, CA 93110

Santa Barbara: median income $129,209, home value $1,199,500, $987/sq ft, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Carpinteria, CA 93013 82%14$110,359$1,153,600$1,089 cheaper homes ($46K less) · 9 min longer commute
Santa Barbara, CA 93111 80%2$144,353$1,296,700$1,017 pricier homes ($97K more) · more single-family homes
Breckenridge, CO 80424 79%833$120,907$1,034,600$830 cheaper homes ($165K less) · smaller · younger residents
Steamboat Springs, CO 80487 79%822$109,659$1,055,900$750 cheaper homes ($144K less) · newer homes
Park City, UT 84060 77%623$128,295$1,795,000$1,041 pricier homes ($596K more) · smaller · newer homes
Santa Barbara, CA 93105 76%2$138,286$1,663,000$1,110 pricier homes ($464K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Jackson, WY 83001 73%788$124,717$1,669,100$1,299 pricier homes ($470K more) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Santa Barbara, CA 93103 73%5$122,159$1,663,600$1,148 pricier homes ($464K more) · younger residents · more renters
Lahaina, HI 96761 72%2,427$101,123$995,800$849 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($204K less)
Incline Village, NV 89451 71%333$166,509$1,461,200$763 higher income ($37K more) · pricier homes ($262K more) · smaller
Santa Barbara, CA 93109 71%4$123,347$1,882,500$1,451 pricier homes ($683K more) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Pismo Beach, CA 93449 69%71$118,072$1,021,300$777 cheaper homes ($178K less) · smaller · older residents
Westlake Village, CA 91361 68%57$144,900$1,433,300$676 pricier homes ($234K more) · 11 min longer commute · more single-family homes
San Bruno, CA 94066 68%266$141,272$1,207,500$927 larger · younger residents · 9 min longer commute
Princeville, HI 96722 68%2,540$100,938$1,431,600$974 lower income ($28K less) · pricier homes ($232K more) · smaller
Marathon, FL 33050 67%2,406$94,898$747,300$686 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($452K less)
Kihei, HI 96753 67%2,421$88,408$1,033,600$830 lower income ($41K less) · cheaper homes ($166K less) · larger
Saint Helena, CA 94574 66%319$139,474$1,637,800$1,017 pricier homes ($438K more) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
San Clemente, CA 92672 65%141$111,989$1,438,800$978 pricier homes ($239K more) · larger · 13 min longer commute
Santa Cruz, CA 95062 65%215$112,106$1,076,500$904 cheaper homes ($123K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Soquel, CA 95073 65%215$118,169$1,062,800$699 cheaper homes ($137K less) · 11 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Scotts Valley, CA 95066 64%221$151,250$1,136,400$649 cheaper homes ($63K less) · 10 min longer commute · more homeowners
Silverthorne, CO 80498 63%831$105,897$824,200$614 cheaper homes ($375K less) · smaller · younger residents
Vail, CO 81657 63%823$100,573$1,501,800$1,169 lower income ($29K less) · pricier homes ($302K more) · smaller
San Diego, CA 92128 63%184$131,077$927,100$597 cheaper homes ($272K less) · larger · 9 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.

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