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 San Juan Bautista, CA 95045

San Juan Bautista: median income $110,438, home value $896,700, $410/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bonsall, CA 92003 90%347$113,216$926,700$451 pricier homes ($30K more) · 5 min shorter commute
East Moriches, NY 11940 87%2,606$138,639$661,600$432 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($235K less) · larger
El Dorado, CA 95623 85%129$109,102$601,800$335 cheaper homes ($295K less) · more homeowners
Ben Lomond, CA 95005 83%35$104,375$967,300$570 pricier homes ($71K more) · larger · older homes
Stevenson, WA 98648 82%611$96,696$555,500$380 cheaper homes ($341K less) · more homeowners
Alpine, WY 83128 81%706$112,476$868,600$455 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller · 8 min longer commute
Alpine, CA 91901 81%388$114,167$852,000$456 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Boulder Creek, CA 95006 81%39$102,167$843,200$521 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · older homes
Marshall, VA 20115 80%2,363$142,981$657,300$273 higher income ($33K more) · cheaper homes ($239K less) · larger
Salisbury, CT 06068 79%2,559$123,552$842,200$461 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Kealakekua, HI 96750 79%2,393$92,576$697,600$283 cheaper homes ($199K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Kingston, WA 98346 79%759$114,779$612,800$348 cheaper homes ($284K less) · larger · more homeowners
Gardiner, NY 12525 78%2,524$110,268$446,500$336 cheaper homes ($450K less) · 5 min longer commute
Kingston, MA 02364 77%2,695$119,876$610,600$386 cheaper homes ($286K less) · larger · more homeowners
Eastport, NY 11941 77%2,607$123,750$705,800$348 cheaper homes ($191K less) · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Aromas, CA 95004 77%6$130,744$877,300$600 10 min shorter commute
Linden, CA 95236 77%86$104,703$650,500$378 cheaper homes ($246K less) · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Holualoa, HI 96725 77%2,389$93,346$880,000$586 11 min shorter commute
Corbett, OR 97019 77%601$104,022$686,400$309 cheaper homes ($210K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Gaston, OR 97119 77%600$115,515$629,000$300 cheaper homes ($268K less) · more homeowners
Huntsville, UT 84317 76%606$130,040$762,700$418 cheaper homes ($134K less) · 5 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Mountain Center, CA 92561 76%347$94,063$614,300$405 cheaper homes ($282K less) · smaller · younger residents
Applegate, CA 95703 76%152$100,214$603,900$351 cheaper homes ($293K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Kapaau, HI 96755 76%2,358$96,813$722,400$648 cheaper homes ($174K less)
Olalla, WA 98359 76%733$114,091$610,500$388 cheaper homes ($286K less) · more homeowners

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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