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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 Atascadero, CA 93422

Atascadero: median income $91,780, home value $737,600, $438/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Paso Robles, CA 93446 95%12$97,943$707,500$431 cheaper homes ($30K less)
El Cajon, CA 92019 92%284$101,973$801,400$520 pricier homes ($64K more)
Lodi, CA 95242 92%187$104,721$567,100$326 cheaper homes ($171K less)
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 91%241$92,517$707,500$467 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Auburn, CA 95603 89%239$85,357$650,500$369 cheaper homes ($87K less) · older residents
Escondido, CA 92026 88%259$104,561$714,300$468 larger · 5 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Lakeside, CA 92040 88%280$107,937$723,200$496 more apartments and townhomes
Camarillo, CA 93010 88%126$111,176$867,100$495 pricier homes ($130K more)
Ripon, CA 95366 88%159$112,097$707,800$373 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Hood River, OR 97031 88%706$91,858$691,200$409 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Lynden, WA 98264 88%935$103,638$609,100$341 cheaper homes ($129K less)
Santa Maria, CA 93455 87%47$110,661$610,300$416 cheaper homes ($127K less)
Winters, CA 95694 87%223$109,696$658,400$360 cheaper homes ($79K less) · smaller
Kahului, HI 96732 87%2,386$101,739$864,300$640 pricier homes ($127K more)
Everett, WA 98208 87%862$103,705$691,500$388 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814 86%867$74,782$589,600$419 cheaper homes ($148K less) · older residents
Ventura, CA 93004 86%119$114,012$800,900$505 pricier homes ($63K more) · more walkable
Nipomo, CA 93444 86%32$110,867$816,000$507 pricier homes ($78K more) · smaller · newer homes
Salinas, CA 93907 86%105$104,942$750,100$484 7 min longer commute
Santa Rosa, CA 95401 86%235$93,615$630,900$479 cheaper homes ($107K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Dixon, CA 95620 86%214$103,054$619,800$339 cheaper homes ($118K less) · younger residents
Orangevale, CA 95662 86%224$96,689$558,300$352 cheaper homes ($179K less) · 6 min longer commute
Wailuku, HI 96793 86%2,386$107,668$832,400$656 pricier homes ($95K more)
Canby, OR 97013 86%684$101,832$562,300$317 cheaper homes ($175K less)
Oregon City, OR 97045 86%689$103,573$587,700$313 cheaper homes ($150K less) · 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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