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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 Lemon Grove, CA 91945

Lemon Grove: median income $88,016, home value $704,900, $540/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Downey, CA 90242 95%104$89,075$761,000$600 pricier homes ($56K more)
Lakewood, CA 90715 95%97$91,875$743,200$567 pricier homes ($38K more)
Sun Valley, CA 91352 94%128$78,239$764,800$638 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger
Garden Grove, CA 92841 93%91$84,451$813,700$653 pricier homes ($109K more)
Gardena, CA 90249 92%110$89,712$768,000$645 pricier homes ($63K more) · older homes
Azusa, CA 91702 92%108$92,683$635,400$494 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger
Montclair, CA 91763 92%100$78,770$570,100$431 cheaper homes ($135K less)
Pomona, CA 91767 92%102$79,245$599,200$462 cheaper homes ($106K less) · larger
San Diego, CA 92139 92%4$95,653$630,800$507 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Lawndale, CA 90260 91%110$87,825$801,800$592 pricier homes ($97K more)
Winnetka, CA 91306 91%135$93,151$800,000$518 pricier homes ($95K more) · larger
Baldwin Park, CA 91706 91%109$81,122$609,000$517 cheaper homes ($96K less) · larger
Pomona, CA 91766 91%100$81,991$599,000$432 cheaper homes ($106K less) · larger
Pomona, CA 91768 91%102$76,041$573,200$521 cheaper homes ($132K less)
Salinas, CA 93906 91%379$97,555$638,500$524 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger
Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670 90%103$88,872$659,600$547 cheaper homes ($45K less) · smaller
North Hills, CA 91343 90%133$81,430$823,700$480 pricier homes ($119K more) · larger
El Monte, CA 91732 90%108$75,108$644,200$469 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger
Garden Grove, CA 92843 90%88$81,446$747,000$596 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Seattle, WA 98168 90%1,056$88,083$548,000$369 cheaper homes ($157K less)
Santa Ana, CA 92703 89%86$84,437$618,600$640 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger
Garden Grove, CA 92840 89%89$98,881$789,700$613 pricier homes ($85K more) · larger
San Pablo, CA 94806 89%469$86,034$607,800$454 cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger
Watsonville, CA 95076 89%394$91,099$808,900$575 pricier homes ($104K more) · larger
San Jose, CA 95122 89%418$103,549$872,900$747 pricier homes ($168K more) · 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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