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 Martin, CA 95046

San Martin: median income $158,550, home value $1,477,900, $789/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Somis, CA 93066 80%243$156,957$1,501,600$661 smaller · older residents · 10 min shorter commute
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019 77%54$153,781$1,556,800$812 pricier homes ($79K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Topanga, CA 90290 74%266$149,304$1,567,700$698 pricier homes ($90K more)
Hampton Bays, NY 11946 73%2,614$133,918$737,400$659 cheaper homes ($741K less) · larger
Carmel Valley, CA 93924 73%43$148,563$1,222,600$762 cheaper homes ($255K less) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Pescadero, CA 94060 73%43$127,973$1,401,500$838 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($76K less) · smaller
Hayward, CA 94542 73%46$133,734$1,148,000$606 cheaper homes ($330K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Jamul, CA 91935 72%405$151,538$902,400$451 cheaper homes ($576K less) · more homeowners
Santa Cruz, CA 95065 72%22$153,222$1,228,500$674 cheaper homes ($249K less) · 10 min shorter commute
Yorba Linda, CA 92887 71%311$163,953$1,179,100$575 cheaper homes ($299K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Santa Ynez, CA 93460 71%191$114,139$1,205,900$677 lower income ($44K less) · cheaper homes ($272K less) · younger residents
Salinas, CA 93908 71%34$156,394$1,091,700$549 cheaper homes ($386K less) · larger · younger residents
Aromas, CA 95004 71%15$130,744$877,300$600 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($601K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Penryn, CA 95663 70%124$155,917$960,800$540 cheaper homes ($517K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Bodega Bay, CA 94923 69%116$147,546$1,186,500$910 cheaper homes ($291K less) · smaller · older residents
Ben Lomond, CA 95005 69%27$104,375$967,300$570 lower income ($54K less) · cheaper homes ($511K less)
Southampton, NY 11968 68%2,620$156,219$1,326,600$963 cheaper homes ($151K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Bonita, CA 91902 68%401$122,524$984,900$532 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($493K less) · larger
Capistrano Beach, CA 92624 68%335$140,666$1,226,200$1,085 cheaper homes ($252K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more renters
Kula, HI 96790 68%2,365$100,693$1,037,700$897 lower income ($58K less) · cheaper homes ($440K less) · larger
Vashon, WA 98070 68%715$120,571$790,700$530 lower income ($38K less) · cheaper homes ($687K less) · larger
Southold, NY 11971 67%2,617$129,507$843,300$587 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($635K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Upland, CA 91784 67%301$154,349$891,600$435 cheaper homes ($586K less) · larger
Montauk, NY 11954 66%2,642$142,961$1,356,600$1,185 cheaper homes ($121K less) · 12 min shorter commute
Sag Harbor, NY 11963 66%2,624$127,746$1,208,000$1,004 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($270K less) · older residents

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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