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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 Santa Paula, CA 93060

Santa Paula: median income $80,979, home value $635,100, $416/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lompoc, CA 93436 95%81$80,097$504,000$389 cheaper homes ($131K less) · larger
Long Beach, CA 90810 92%61$84,350$614,400$529 older homes
Lodi, CA 95240 92%287$82,137$472,100$339 cheaper homes ($163K less)
Pomona, CA 91766 89%78$81,991$599,000$432 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · more walkable
Ontario, CA 91762 88%83$83,850$606,000$390 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · more walkable
Lemon Grove, CA 91945 88%162$88,016$704,900$540 pricier homes ($70K more) · more walkable
Escondido, CA 92027 88%143$93,338$691,000$453 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger
Seattle, WA 98168 88%923$88,083$548,000$369 cheaper homes ($87K less) · more walkable
Montclair, CA 91763 87%81$78,770$570,100$431 cheaper homes ($65K less) · more walkable
Citrus Heights, CA 95610 87%324$83,327$485,900$319 cheaper homes ($149K less)
Baldwin Park, CA 91706 86%65$81,122$609,000$517 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · more walkable
Pomona, CA 91768 86%77$76,041$573,200$521 cheaper homes ($62K less) · more walkable
Colton, CA 92324 86%104$71,078$445,100$372 cheaper homes ($190K less) · larger
Riverside, CA 92504 86%99$92,477$562,600$414 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger
Fairfield, CA 94533 86%317$87,384$542,200$328 cheaper homes ($93K less) · larger
Watsonville, CA 95076 86%232$91,099$808,900$575 pricier homes ($174K more) · larger
Compton, CA 90220 85%58$82,335$554,900$505 cheaper homes ($80K less) · more walkable
El Monte, CA 91732 85%63$75,108$644,200$469 larger · more renters · more walkable
San Diego, CA 92139 85%164$95,653$630,800$507 Very close on everything we compare
Sun Valley, CA 91352 84%41$78,239$764,800$638 pricier homes ($130K more) · more walkable
Turlock, CA 95380 84%238$74,534$433,600$321 cheaper homes ($202K less)
Santa Rosa, CA 95401 84%349$93,615$630,900$479 Very close on everything we compare
Ukiah, CA 95482 84%403$69,772$491,300$343 cheaper homes ($144K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Montebello, CA 90640 83%60$79,625$699,700$502 pricier homes ($65K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Pomona, CA 91767 83%79$79,245$599,200$462 cheaper homes ($36K less) · 6 min longer commute · more walkable

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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