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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 Pleasanton, CA 94566

Pleasanton: median income $191,155, home value $1,656,900, $816/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pleasanton, CA 94588 91%2$191,073$1,384,300$779 cheaper homes ($273K less)
Fremont, CA 94555 90%11$219,938$1,376,600$962 higher income ($29K more) · cheaper homes ($280K less) · younger residents
San Ramon, CA 94583 89%8$184,898$1,383,600$708 cheaper homes ($273K less) · less walkable
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275 85%334$179,469$1,612,000$781 cheaper homes ($45K less) · older homes
Walnut Creek, CA 94598 84%19$186,225$1,339,900$665 cheaper homes ($317K less) · smaller · less walkable
Encinitas, CA 92024 83%411$158,507$1,612,000$993 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($45K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Livermore, CA 94550 82%6$180,295$1,202,500$666 cheaper homes ($454K less)
Fremont, CA 94539 81%11$243,552$1,950,900$1,034 higher income ($52K more) · pricier homes ($294K more)
Los Gatos, CA 95032 81%30$203,727$2M+*$1,206 pricier homes ($343K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Calabasas, CA 91302 80%303$185,636$1,724,500$676 pricier homes ($68K more) · smaller · less walkable
Alameda, CA 94502 80%21$180,938$1,204,200$658 cheaper homes ($453K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Fremont, CA 94536 79%10$167,662$1,287,800$932 cheaper homes ($369K less) · larger · younger residents
San Jose, CA 95132 79%18$178,611$1,349,100$942 cheaper homes ($308K less)
Agoura Hills, CA 91301 78%301$163,317$1,116,200$584 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($541K less) · smaller
Oakland, CA 94611 78%23$180,549$1,537,700$751 cheaper homes ($119K less) · older homes
Carlsbad, CA 92009 77%409$164,182$1,368,100$654 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($289K less) · 6 min shorter commute
San Jose, CA 95119 77%30$174,375$1,247,800$841 cheaper homes ($409K less) · smaller · younger residents
San Jose, CA 95124 77%28$185,926$1,666,300$1,134 younger residents · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Bellevue, WA 98006 77%684$198,150$1,388,500$592 cheaper homes ($268K less) · 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
San Ramon, CA 94582 76%7$214,677$1,635,700$710 less walkable · newer homes
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 75%326$204,306$2M+*$1,538 pricier homes ($343K more) · 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Mill Valley, CA 94941 75%39$209,870$2M+*$1,120 pricier homes ($343K more) · 7 min shorter commute · older homes
Honolulu, HI 96825 75%2,413$153,210$1,088,700$759 lower income ($38K less) · cheaper homes ($568K less) · more homeowners
Bellevue, WA 98008 75%687$184,583$1,206,200$671 cheaper homes ($451K less) · smaller · 10 min shorter commute
Mercer Island, WA 98040 75%684$219,069$2M+*$799 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($343K more) · smaller

* 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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