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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 Cardiff By The Sea, CA 92007

Cardiff By The Sea: median income $182,629, home value $2M+*, $1,307/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Los Gatos, CA 95032 85%393$203,727$2M+*$1,206 larger · 6 min longer commute
Menlo Park, CA 94025 83%412$216,601$2M+*$1,558 higher income ($34K more) · larger · older homes
San Mateo, CA 94402 83%423$172,522$2M+*$1,372 larger · 5 min longer commute · older homes
Belmont, CA 94002 82%420$203,965$2M+*$1,256 larger · 7 min longer commute
San Jose, CA 95129 82%398$195,708$2M+*$1,469 larger · 5 min longer commute
La Jolla, CA 92037 81%12$147,230$1,958,700$1,039 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Solana Beach, CA 92075 80%2$149,327$2M+*$1,136 lower income ($33K less) · older residents
Coronado, CA 92118 80%24$134,534$2M+*$1,435 lower income ($48K less) · larger
San Jose, CA 95130 80%397$159,556$1,839,600$1,324 cheaper homes ($160K less) · 5 min longer commute · older homes
Los Angeles, CA 90049 78%100$170,607$2M+*$991 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Encinitas, CA 92024 78%2$158,507$1,612,000$993 cheaper homes ($388K less) · larger
Newport Beach, CA 92660 78%54$159,564$2M+*$1,315 larger · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Del Mar, CA 92014 77%4$198,823$2M+*$1,248 older residents
Irvine, CA 92603 77%51$173,094$1,931,700$1,141 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger · newer homes
Sunnyvale, CA 94087 77%402$207,742$2M+*$1,416 higher income ($25K more) · larger
Larkspur, CA 94939 77%450$203,988$2M+*$1,151 smaller · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Incline Village, NV 89451 76%456$166,509$1,461,200$763 cheaper homes ($539K less) · older residents
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 76%88$204,306$2M+*$1,538 larger · 7 min longer commute · more walkable
Newport Coast, CA 92657 76%51$185,042$2M+*$1,653 older residents · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Redwood City, CA 94065 76%419$215,955$1,811,800$912 higher income ($33K more) · cheaper homes ($188K less) · 6 min longer commute
San Carlos, CA 94070 76%418$240,074$2M+*$1,361 higher income ($57K more) · larger · older homes
Cupertino, CA 95014 76%401$230,913$2M+*$1,501 higher income ($48K more) · larger
Mercer Island, WA 98040 76%1,037$219,069$2M+*$799 higher income ($36K more) · larger · older residents
Corona Del Mar, CA 92625 75%53$174,904$2M+*$2,122 older residents
San Mateo, CA 94403 75%421$174,917$1,746,300$1,252 cheaper homes ($254K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute

* 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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