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 Lawndale, CA 90260

Lawndale: median income $87,825, home value $801,800, $592/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Salinas, CA 93901 95%268$91,233$788,300$513 Very close on everything we compare
Downey, CA 90242 91%12$89,075$761,000$600 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Lemon Grove, CA 91945 91%110$88,016$704,900$540 cheaper homes ($97K less)
Santa Ana, CA 92706 91%28$102,857$893,700$694 pricier homes ($92K more)
Garden Grove, CA 92843 91%26$81,446$747,000$596 cheaper homes ($55K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Seaside, CA 93955 91%271$85,282$788,300$667 Very close on everything we compare
Lakewood, CA 90715 90%16$91,875$743,200$567 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller
Lomita, CA 90717 90%7$94,241$839,000$600 pricier homes ($37K more)
San Gabriel, CA 91776 90%20$82,155$859,600$639 pricier homes ($58K more)
Garden Grove, CA 92840 90%25$98,881$789,700$613 larger
Artesia, CA 90701 89%16$101,004$776,600$590 cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller
Sun Valley, CA 91352 89%23$78,239$764,800$638 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Santa Ana, CA 92707 89%30$105,168$681,300$623 cheaper homes ($121K less) · larger
Garden Grove, CA 92841 89%23$84,451$813,700$653 6 min longer commute
El Monte, CA 91732 88%23$75,108$644,200$469 cheaper homes ($158K less) · larger
Oxnard, CA 93030 88%52$92,958$688,300$434 cheaper homes ($114K less) · larger
San Jose, CA 95116 88%310$85,818$860,900$635 pricier homes ($59K more) · more apartments and townhomes
San Jose, CA 95122 88%308$103,549$872,900$747 pricier homes ($71K more) · larger
Winnetka, CA 91306 87%26$93,151$800,000$518 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Gardena, CA 90249 86%2$89,712$768,000$645 cheaper homes ($34K less) · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Bellflower, CA 90706 86%13$78,722$705,700$561 cheaper homes ($96K less) · larger
Santa Ana, CA 92704 86%28$99,777$700,200$634 cheaper homes ($102K less) · larger
Downey, CA 90241 85%13$88,006$829,000$598 pricier homes ($27K more) · 8 min longer commute
Westminster, CA 92683 85%23$85,585$858,300$640 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger · older residents
Santa Ana, CA 92703 85%27$84,437$618,600$640 cheaper homes ($183K less) · 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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