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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 Irvine, CA 92602

Irvine: median income $161,620, home value $1,502,000, $877/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Irvine, CA 92620 92%3$146,942$1,267,800$801 cheaper homes ($234K less) · larger
Irvine, CA 92603 85%9$173,094$1,931,700$1,141 pricier homes ($430K more) · smaller · older residents
Carlsbad, CA 92011 82%51$159,235$1,302,600$770 cheaper homes ($199K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Tustin, CA 92782 81%2$146,080$1,149,200$700 cheaper homes ($353K less)
Irvine, CA 92618 80%3$145,731$1,283,800$723 cheaper homes ($218K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Redmond, WA 98052 79%989$163,460$1,180,600$620 cheaper homes ($321K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
San Diego, CA 92130 77%62$205,680$1,748,100$883 higher income ($44K more) · pricier homes ($246K more) · larger
Bellevue, WA 98005 77%986$160,849$1,519,500$613 older homes
Kirkland, WA 98033 77%990$182,500$1,491,700$742 more homeowners · older homes
Issaquah, WA 98029 76%980$170,759$1,063,200$525 cheaper homes ($439K less) · more homeowners
Dallas, TX 75205 72%1,210$181,631$1,706,700$693 pricier homes ($205K more) · younger residents · 8 min shorter commute
Milpitas, CA 95035 72%346$178,654$1,253,200$777 cheaper homes ($249K less) · larger · older homes
Bellevue, WA 98004 72%986$182,545$2M+*$915 pricier homes ($498K more) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Irvine, CA 92606 71%5$135,598$1,141,100$788 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($361K less) · 6 min shorter commute
San Diego, CA 92127 70%62$195,520$1,232,300$676 higher income ($34K more) · cheaper homes ($270K less) · larger
San Jose, CA 95131 70%343$170,255$1,164,800$764 cheaper homes ($337K less) · more homeowners · older homes
Redondo Beach, CA 90278 69%37$160,236$1,242,700$783 cheaper homes ($259K less) · larger · older homes
Encinitas, CA 92024 68%55$158,507$1,612,000$993 pricier homes ($110K more) · larger · older residents
Carlsbad, CA 92009 67%53$164,182$1,368,100$654 cheaper homes ($134K less) · larger · older residents
Ladera Ranch, CA 92694 67%15$189,966$1,127,200$634 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($375K less) · more homeowners
Santa Clara, CA 95054 67%346$207,895$1,493,100$922 higher income ($46K more) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Carlsbad, CA 92010 66%47$129,926$1,103,300$639 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($399K less) · smaller
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 66%12$137,639$903,200$685 cheaper homes ($599K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
San Mateo, CA 94404 66%366$192,332$1,714,400$916 higher income ($31K more) · pricier homes ($212K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Bothell, WA 98011 66%995$131,667$933,000$486 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($569K less) · older homes

* 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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