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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 Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Manhattan Beach: median income $204,306, home value $2M+*, $1,538/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Los Gatos, CA 95032 94%306$203,727$2M+*$1,206 Very close on everything we compare
San Jose, CA 95129 93%311$195,708$2M+*$1,469 Very close on everything we compare
Cupertino, CA 95014 89%313$230,913$2M+*$1,501 higher income ($27K more) · larger
Mill Valley, CA 94941 88%361$209,870$2M+*$1,120 Very close on everything we compare
Sunnyvale, CA 94087 87%314$207,742$2M+*$1,416 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Menlo Park, CA 94025 86%325$216,601$2M+*$1,558 less walkable
Palo Alto, CA 94306 85%321$210,000$2M+*$1,887 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Burlingame, CA 94010 83%338$196,882$2M+*$1,503 less walkable
Corte Madera, CA 94925 81%361$232,763$1,755,200$1,066 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($245K less) · smaller
Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 80%13$189,713$2M+*$1,150 smaller · older residents · more homeowners
Fremont, CA 94539 79%319$243,552$1,950,900$1,034 higher income ($39K more) · cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Mercer Island, WA 98040 79%965$219,069$2M+*$799 Very close on everything we compare
San Jose, CA 95124 78%305$185,926$1,666,300$1,134 cheaper homes ($334K less) · larger
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 77%2$166,442$2M+*$1,247 lower income ($38K less) · smaller · more renters
San Carlos, CA 94070 77%330$240,074$2M+*$1,361 higher income ($36K more) · less walkable
San Mateo, CA 94402 77%335$172,522$2M+*$1,372 lower income ($32K less) · less walkable · older homes
Beverly Hills, CA 90210 76%14$187,801$2M+*$1,334 smaller · older residents · less walkable
Cardiff By The Sea, CA 92007 76%88$182,629$2M+*$1,307 smaller · 7 min shorter commute · less walkable
Belmont, CA 94002 76%332$203,965$2M+*$1,256 less walkable
Palo Alto, CA 94301 76%323$242,006$2M+*$2,050 higher income ($38K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Pleasanton, CA 94566 75%326$191,155$1,656,900$816 cheaper homes ($343K less) · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Belvedere Tiburon, CA 94920 75%358$246,045$2M+*$1,376 higher income ($42K more) · smaller · older residents
Fremont, CA 94555 74%326$219,938$1,376,600$962 cheaper homes ($623K less) · newer homes
Oakland, CA 94611 73%347$180,549$1,537,700$751 cheaper homes ($462K less)
San Jose, CA 95130 73%309$159,556$1,839,600$1,324 lower income ($45K less) · cheaper homes ($160K less) · smaller

* 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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