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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 Redwood City, CA 94062

Redwood City: median income $233,262, home value $2M+*, $1,304/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
San Carlos, CA 94070 93%5$240,074$2M+*$1,361 Very close on everything we compare
Lafayette, CA 94549 87%34$234,516$2M+*$855 Very close on everything we compare
Mill Valley, CA 94941 87%35$209,870$2M+*$1,120 more walkable
La Canada Flintridge, CA 91011 83%319$241,875$2M+*$1,007 more homeowners
Greenwich, CT 06831 81%2,581$227,159$1,696,000$735 cheaper homes ($304K less) · smaller · newer homes
Beverly Hills, CA 90210 81%317$187,801$2M+*$1,334 lower income ($45K less) · older residents
Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 80%315$189,713$2M+*$1,150 lower income ($44K less) · more walkable
Burlingame, CA 94010 78%11$196,882$2M+*$1,503 lower income ($36K less) · larger · more renters
San Anselmo, CA 94960 78%42$185,170$1,674,500$991 lower income ($48K less) · cheaper homes ($326K less) · smaller
Los Angeles, CA 90077 77%314$206,319$2M+*$970 lower income ($27K less) · smaller · newer homes
Danville, CA 94526 77%32$225,097$1,677,700$789 cheaper homes ($322K less) · newer homes
Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA 90274 76%335$215,925$2M+*$961 older residents · more homeowners · more walkable
Encino, CA 91436 76%311$177,981$2M+*$766 lower income ($55K less) · smaller
Los Gatos, CA 95030 76%22$250,000+*$2M+*$1,354 smaller · older residents · more walkable
Saratoga, CA 95070 76%18$250,000+*$2M+*$1,446 older residents · more homeowners
San Mateo, CA 94402 75%9$172,522$2M+*$1,372 lower income ($61K less) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Corte Madera, CA 94925 75%36$232,763$1,755,200$1,066 cheaper homes ($245K less) · smaller · more walkable
Menlo Park, CA 94025 74%6$216,601$2M+*$1,558 larger · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
San Jose, CA 95124 73%24$185,926$1,666,300$1,134 lower income ($47K less) · cheaper homes ($334K less) · larger
Malibu, CA 90265 72%307$196,742$2M+*$1,167 lower income ($37K less) · smaller · older residents
Santa Barbara, CA 93108 72%255$230,419$2M+*$1,802 smaller · older residents · newer homes
Belvedere Tiburon, CA 94920 72%33$246,045$2M+*$1,376 smaller · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Belmont, CA 94002 71%6$203,965$2M+*$1,256 lower income ($29K less) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Los Altos, CA 94024 71%12$250,000+*$2M+*$1,924 more homeowners
Fremont, CA 94539 71%21$243,552$1,950,900$1,034 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger · more walkable

* 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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