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.

Reset

Towns most like Waialua, HI 96791

Waialua: median income $97,470, home value $977,400, $861/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Calistoga, CA 94515 85%2,407$94,464$824,900$797 cheaper homes ($153K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Haleiwa, HI 96712 83%5$88,333$1,400,100$1,181 pricier homes ($423K more) · younger residents
Sunland, CA 91040 79%2,563$98,256$861,600$623 cheaper homes ($116K less) · larger · older homes
Makawao, HI 96768 79%126$100,391$946,700$814 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Kapaa, HI 96746 76%86$88,802$882,400$727 cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Santa Ynez, CA 93460 75%2,471$114,139$1,205,900$677 pricier homes ($229K more) · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Ben Lomond, CA 95005 75%2,401$104,375$967,300$570 more single-family homes
Tujunga, CA 91042 74%2,566$85,603$840,800$636 cheaper homes ($137K less) · larger · more walkable
Oak View, CA 93022 73%2,511$110,405$816,800$601 cheaper homes ($161K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Hauula, HI 96717 73%14$102,978$875,000$625 cheaper homes ($102K less) · younger residents
Gardena, CA 90248 72%2,562$91,176$724,300$597 cheaper homes ($253K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Ojai, CA 93023 72%2,514$80,927$911,400$774 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger · 10 min shorter commute
San Leandro, CA 94579 72%2,410$99,040$850,300$659 cheaper homes ($127K less) · larger · more walkable
Soquel, CA 95073 72%2,407$118,169$1,062,800$699 pricier homes ($85K more) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Holualoa, HI 96725 72%197$93,346$880,000$586 cheaper homes ($97K less) · 9 min shorter commute · less walkable
Pearl City, HI 96782 72%16$108,669$874,200$603 cheaper homes ($103K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Buellton, CA 93427 71%2,464$102,857$867,500$567 cheaper homes ($110K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Solvang, CA 93463 71%2,465$118,488$1,114,500$639 pricier homes ($137K more) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Haiku, HI 96708 71%126$100,664$1,105,400$844 pricier homes ($128K more) · larger · younger residents
West Covina, CA 91791 70%2,586$102,266$843,600$508 cheaper homes ($134K less) · larger · more walkable
Spring Valley, CA 91978 70%2,627$113,170$637,200$504 cheaper homes ($340K less) · larger · younger residents
Oxnard, CA 93035 70%2,513$106,611$801,600$598 cheaper homes ($176K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
San Juan Bautista, CA 95045 70%2,426$110,438$896,700$410 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Kahului, HI 96732 70%117$101,739$864,300$640 cheaper homes ($113K less) · larger · 10 min shorter commute
La Verne, CA 91750 69%2,594$104,195$814,700$528 cheaper homes ($163K less) · larger · more walkable

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