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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 Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

Hermosa Beach: median income $166,442, home value $2M+*, $1,247/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
San Francisco, CA 94131 85%351$199,211$1,713,300$1,192 higher income ($33K more) · cheaper homes ($287K less)
Los Angeles, CA 90064 84%12$135,383$1,765,300$997 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($235K less) · 6 min shorter commute
San Jose, CA 95129 83%312$195,708$2M+*$1,469 higher income ($29K more) · larger · less walkable
Los Angeles, CA 90049 81%15$170,607$2M+*$991 larger · 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Pasadena, CA 91105 80%23$156,791$1,671,000$841 cheaper homes ($329K less) · smaller · less walkable
Studio City, CA 91604 79%19$141,875$1,700,300$822 cheaper homes ($300K less) · larger · less walkable
Palo Alto, CA 94306 79%323$210,000$2M+*$1,887 higher income ($44K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Larkspur, CA 94939 79%364$203,988$2M+*$1,151 higher income ($38K more) · smaller · older residents
Los Gatos, CA 95032 79%307$203,727$2M+*$1,206 higher income ($37K more) · more homeowners · less walkable
Redondo Beach, CA 90277 78%2$127,795$1,476,000$890 lower income ($39K less) · cheaper homes ($524K less) · larger
Newport Beach, CA 92663 78%31$141,541$2M+*$1,469 7 min shorter commute
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 77%2$204,306$2M+*$1,538 higher income ($38K more) · larger · more homeowners
Venice, CA 90291 76%10$122,738$2M+*$1,244 lower income ($44K less) · more renters
South Pasadena, CA 91030 76%22$127,175$1,640,000$947 lower income ($39K less) · cheaper homes ($360K less) · less walkable
Sunnyvale, CA 94087 76%316$207,742$2M+*$1,416 higher income ($41K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Coronado, CA 92118 75%108$134,534$2M+*$1,435 lower income ($32K less) · 8 min shorter commute · less walkable
El Segundo, CA 90245 74%4$150,737$1,587,500$1,110 cheaper homes ($413K less) · less walkable
Sausalito, CA 94965 74%359$146,946$1,537,800$878 cheaper homes ($462K less) · smaller · older residents
Campbell, CA 95008 74%309$141,131$1,633,600$1,000 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($366K less) · larger
Mountain View, CA 94040 73%320$187,781$2M+*$1,570 larger · younger residents · more renters
San Mateo, CA 94403 73%335$174,917$1,746,300$1,252 cheaper homes ($254K less) · larger · less walkable
Albany, CA 94706 73%354$143,398$1,203,500$836 cheaper homes ($797K less) · older homes
La Jolla, CA 92037 72%96$147,230$1,958,700$1,039 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Newport Beach, CA 92660 72%34$159,564$2M+*$1,315 larger · 9 min shorter commute · less walkable
Santa Clara, CA 95051 72%314$196,690$1,680,600$1,278 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($319K less) · larger

* The Census Bureau doesn’t publish exact figures above $250,000 for household income, $2,000,000 for home values or $3,500 for monthly rent; it reports them as “or more.”

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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