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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 Chula Vista, CA 91910

Chula Vista: median income $90,222, home value $741,200, $499/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Escondido, CA 92025 95%33$81,106$827,900$479 pricier homes ($87K more) · smaller
Canoga Park, CA 91304 94%141$90,007$886,400$504 pricier homes ($145K more)
North Hills, CA 91343 94%137$81,430$823,700$480 pricier homes ($83K more)
Chula Vista, CA 91911 94%2$82,350$636,100$491 cheaper homes ($105K less)
El Cajon, CA 92020 94%12$76,032$813,100$522 pricier homes ($72K more)
Upland, CA 91786 93%108$92,458$641,600$435 cheaper homes ($100K less)
Santa Ana, CA 92704 93%90$99,777$700,200$634 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Vista, CA 92083 92%40$86,974$658,200$528 cheaper homes ($83K less) · smaller
Rohnert Park, CA 94928 92%506$99,280$666,000$413 cheaper homes ($75K less) · smaller
Honolulu, HI 96819 92%2,613$99,848$954,600$477 pricier homes ($213K more) · smaller
El Cajon, CA 92021 91%15$74,013$611,900$483 cheaper homes ($129K less)
San Diego, CA 92139 91%3$95,653$630,800$507 cheaper homes ($110K less) · smaller
Hayward, CA 94544 91%446$107,785$827,200$599 pricier homes ($86K more)
San Jose, CA 95116 91%423$85,818$860,900$635 pricier homes ($120K more) · smaller
Westminster, CA 92683 90%94$85,585$858,300$640 pricier homes ($117K more) · older residents
Anaheim, CA 92804 90%97$76,141$799,600$596 pricier homes ($58K more)
Anaheim, CA 92805 90%96$91,252$736,600$541 Very close on everything we compare
Garden Grove, CA 92840 90%94$98,881$789,700$613 pricier homes ($49K more) · older homes
Garden Grove, CA 92843 90%93$81,446$747,000$596 smaller
Salinas, CA 93901 90%382$91,233$788,300$513 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller
Hayward, CA 94541 90%449$105,729$812,000$533 pricier homes ($71K more) · 7 min longer commute
Gardena, CA 90247 89%112$77,333$659,100$453 cheaper homes ($82K less) · smaller
Bellflower, CA 90706 89%106$78,722$705,700$561 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Azusa, CA 91702 89%114$92,683$635,400$494 cheaper homes ($106K less)
West Covina, CA 91792 89%107$94,817$696,200$489 cheaper homes ($45K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute

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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