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 Solvang, CA 93463

Solvang: median income $118,488, home value $1,114,500, $639/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pismo Beach, CA 93449 92%45$118,072$1,021,300$777 cheaper homes ($93K less)
Novato, CA 94949 87%270$120,758$1,150,500$576 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · younger residents
Novato, CA 94945 83%274$107,790$1,124,100$560 larger
Sonoma, CA 95476 82%282$105,374$896,900$609 cheaper homes ($218K less) · larger
Morro Bay, CA 93442 81%63$95,623$918,700$629 cheaper homes ($196K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Novato, CA 94947 81%273$128,766$1,017,600$602 cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger · younger residents
Calistoga, CA 94515 80%303$94,464$824,900$797 cheaper homes ($290K less) · younger residents · less walkable
Oxnard, CA 93035 77%63$106,611$801,600$598 cheaper homes ($313K less) · larger · younger residents
San Rafael, CA 94903 77%270$142,083$1,197,300$722 pricier homes ($83K more) · larger · older homes
Carbondale, CO 81623 76%782$109,661$913,300$681 cheaper homes ($201K less) · larger · younger residents
La Palma, CA 90623 76%134$116,594$979,600$562 cheaper homes ($135K less) · larger · younger residents
Santa Rosa, CA 95409 76%297$107,867$802,000$445 cheaper homes ($313K less) · larger · less walkable
San Pedro, CA 90732 75%123$120,807$857,000$483 cheaper homes ($258K less) · larger · younger residents
Huntington Beach, CA 92649 75%137$123,257$1,131,500$810 larger · younger residents
Arroyo Grande, CA 93420 75%39$110,553$917,900$572 cheaper homes ($197K less) · larger · younger residents
Edmonds, WA 98020 75%916$130,319$1,031,500$625 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger · more homeowners
Westlake Village, CA 91361 74%83$144,900$1,433,300$676 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($319K more) · larger
Carpinteria, CA 93013 74%41$110,359$1,153,600$1,089 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger · younger residents
Benicia, CA 94510 74%261$121,204$810,000$431 cheaper homes ($305K less) · larger · younger residents
Soquel, CA 95073 74%191$118,169$1,062,800$699 cheaper homes ($52K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Aiea, HI 96701 74%2,461$111,173$941,600$542 cheaper homes ($173K less) · larger · younger residents
Spring Lake, NJ 07762 73%2,532$116,295$927,700$705 cheaper homes ($187K less)
La Verne, CA 91750 73%142$104,195$814,700$528 cheaper homes ($300K less) · larger · younger residents
Buellton, CA 93427 73%2$102,857$867,500$567 cheaper homes ($247K less) · younger residents
Aptos, CA 95003 73%188$148,412$1,198,700$764 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($84K more) · larger

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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