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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 Lakeside, CA 92040

Lakeside: median income $107,937, home value $723,200, $496/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Escondido, CA 92026 96%23$104,561$714,300$468 Very close on everything we compare
El Cajon, CA 92019 95%5$101,973$801,400$520 pricier homes ($78K more)
Santee, CA 92071 95%4$113,618$728,900$526 Very close on everything we compare
Spring Valley, CA 91977 94%10$99,657$665,600$527 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Escondido, CA 92027 92%21$93,338$691,000$453 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Vista, CA 92084 92%30$98,577$824,400$470 pricier homes ($101K more)
Pearl City, HI 96782 91%2,627$108,669$874,200$603 pricier homes ($151K more)
San Diego, CA 92139 90%14$95,653$630,800$507 cheaper homes ($92K less)
Santa Rosa, CA 95401 90%506$93,615$630,900$479 cheaper homes ($92K less) · more renters
Camarillo, CA 93010 89%155$111,176$867,100$495 pricier homes ($144K more)
Paso Robles, CA 93446 89%289$97,943$707,500$431 more single-family homes
Santa Rosa, CA 95403 89%508$98,191$693,000$446 cheaper homes ($30K less) · more renters
Oceanside, CA 92056 88%32$106,272$773,200$555 pricier homes ($50K more)
Oceanside, CA 92057 88%35$108,814$743,200$477 6 min longer commute
San Diego, CA 92154 88%21$94,901$639,200$448 cheaper homes ($84K less) · larger
Atascadero, CA 93422 88%280$91,780$737,600$438 more single-family homes
Salinas, CA 93907 88%381$104,942$750,100$484 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Everett, WA 98208 88%1,075$103,705$691,500$388 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Amityville, NY 11701 87%2,442$117,033$499,500$442 cheaper homes ($224K less) · smaller
San Marcos, CA 92069 87%25$96,771$800,700$493 pricier homes ($78K more)
Oxnard, CA 93035 87%161$106,611$801,600$598 pricier homes ($78K more) · smaller · older residents
Carson, CA 90745 86%103$107,988$679,100$593 cheaper homes ($44K less) · more walkable · older homes
Sylmar, CA 91342 86%133$98,118$695,600$498 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Everett, WA 98203 86%1,078$107,376$608,600$359 cheaper homes ($115K less) · more walkable
Methuen, MA 01844 85%2,555$113,212$499,800$341 cheaper homes ($223K less)

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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