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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 Saint Helena, CA 94574

Saint Helena: median income $139,474, home value $1,637,800, $1,017/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Montauk, NY 11954 87%2,650$142,961$1,356,600$1,185 cheaper homes ($281K less) · smaller · younger residents
Capistrano Beach, CA 92624 84%440$140,666$1,226,200$1,085 cheaper homes ($412K less) · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019 84%71$153,781$1,556,800$812 cheaper homes ($81K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Santa Barbara, CA 93111 81%318$144,353$1,296,700$1,017 cheaper homes ($341K less) · larger · younger residents
Santa Cruz, CA 95065 81%107$153,222$1,228,500$674 cheaper homes ($409K less) · younger residents
Carmel, CA 93923 79%139$142,474$1,767,800$1,111 pricier homes ($130K more) · larger · older residents
East Hampton, NY 11937 78%2,639$129,883$1,115,100$875 cheaper homes ($523K less) · larger
Sag Harbor, NY 11963 78%2,633$127,746$1,208,000$1,004 cheaper homes ($430K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Westlake Village, CA 91361 78%363$144,900$1,433,300$676 cheaper homes ($205K less) · larger
Santa Barbara, CA 93109 77%322$123,347$1,882,500$1,451 pricier homes ($245K more) · younger residents
Carmel Valley, CA 93924 77%146$148,563$1,222,600$762 cheaper homes ($415K less) · older residents · 8 min longer commute
Glen Ellen, CA 95442 76%11$164,750$1,328,100$734 higher income ($25K more) · cheaper homes ($310K less) · smaller
Incline Village, NV 89451 75%144$166,509$1,461,200$763 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($177K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Santa Barbara, CA 93105 75%320$138,286$1,663,000$1,110 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger · more renters
Pacifica, CA 94044 75%62$160,408$1,249,800$896 cheaper homes ($388K less) · larger · younger residents
Aptos, CA 95003 74%111$148,412$1,198,700$764 cheaper homes ($439K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Soquel, CA 95073 73%108$118,169$1,062,800$699 cheaper homes ($575K less) · larger · younger residents
Wilson, WY 83014 72%695$140,473$2M+*$1,274 pricier homes ($362K more) · smaller · newer homes
Glendale, CA 91208 72%380$136,892$1,421,200$722 cheaper homes ($217K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Millbrae, CA 94030 72%63$163,476$1,934,900$1,125 pricier homes ($297K more) · larger · younger residents
Southampton, NY 11968 71%2,629$156,219$1,326,600$963 cheaper homes ($311K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Scotts Valley, CA 95066 71%103$151,250$1,136,400$649 cheaper homes ($501K less) · larger · more walkable
Healdsburg, CA 95448 68%23$105,120$1,048,300$701 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($590K less) · larger
Snowmass, CO 81654 67%831$141,111$1,122,000$1,462 cheaper homes ($516K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Bodega Bay, CA 94923 67%34$147,546$1,186,500$910 cheaper homes ($451K less) · smaller · more single-family homes

* 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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