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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 Oceano, CA 93445

Oceano: median income $72,261, home value $573,800, $501/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Grover Beach, CA 93433 84%1$86,458$727,500$543 pricier homes ($154K more) · larger · younger residents
Hyannis, MA 02601 83%2,723$61,143$440,100$406 cheaper homes ($134K less) · larger
Seaside, OR 97138 83%772$60,411$483,800$387 cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger
Kings Beach, CA 96143 80%288$69,922$795,300$622 pricier homes ($222K more) · smaller
Newport, OR 97365 80%684$64,363$441,700$344 cheaper homes ($132K less) · larger · older residents
Gladstone, OR 97027 79%718$94,375$484,200$285 cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger
South Hackensack, NJ 07606 77%2,537$84,527$546,500$484 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · younger residents
Big Bear Lake, CA 92315 77%219$77,436$590,000$375 more single-family homes
Lincoln City, OR 97367 77%701$58,472$424,300$350 cheaper homes ($150K less) · larger · older residents
Delray Beach, FL 33444 75%2,461$72,925$464,100$450 cheaper homes ($110K less) · larger
Fort Bragg, CA 95437 75%346$57,759$554,200$396 larger · more single-family homes · less walkable
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334 74%2,466$75,361$469,700$375 cheaper homes ($104K less) · larger · younger residents
Los Angeles, CA 90040 74%159$74,472$596,100$466 larger · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Ukiah, CA 95482 73%314$69,772$491,300$343 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger · younger residents
Portland, OR 97216 73%727$70,442$450,800$329 cheaper homes ($123K less) · larger · younger residents
Grand Terrace, CA 92313 72%202$83,628$517,600$344 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger · younger residents
Chelan, WA 98816 72%881$82,577$499,200$421 cheaper homes ($75K less) · 5 min shorter commute · less walkable
Somers Point, NJ 08244 71%2,521$70,255$310,400$365 cheaper homes ($263K less) · larger
Miami, FL 33144 71%2,468$60,907$479,200$414 cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315 71%2,467$88,309$498,100$404 cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger · younger residents
Missoula, MT 59804 71%877$76,266$588,400$351 less walkable
Torrance, CA 90502 71%159$94,291$697,400$557 pricier homes ($124K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Woodland, CA 95695 71%256$79,486$547,400$342 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · younger residents
Tacoma, WA 98465 71%845$73,226$593,300$341 6 min longer commute
Sacramento, CA 95827 70%243$85,841$437,300$332 cheaper homes ($137K less) · larger · younger residents

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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