Step 1 · Thinking about buying

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 Milpitas, CA 95035

Milpitas: median income $178,654, home value $1,253,200, $777/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
San Jose, CA 95131 95%3$170,255$1,164,800$764 cheaper homes ($88K less) · smaller
Redondo Beach, CA 90278 91%316$160,236$1,242,700$783 smaller · older homes
Fremont, CA 94536 89%10$167,662$1,287,800$932 pricier homes ($35K more) · 5 min longer commute · older homes
San Jose, CA 95136 87%12$142,433$1,144,000$706 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($109K less) · smaller
Fremont, CA 94538 86%8$147,301$1,136,600$894 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($117K less) · more renters
San Jose, CA 95123 85%14$144,276$1,166,800$788 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($86K less)
Kirkland, WA 98033 83%708$182,500$1,491,700$742 pricier homes ($239K more) · smaller
Irvine, CA 92620 82%347$146,942$1,267,800$801 lower income ($32K less) · newer homes
San Jose, CA 95133 82%5$142,170$1,082,400$673 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($171K less) · smaller
Kirkland, WA 98034 82%711$135,219$946,300$565 lower income ($43K less) · cheaper homes ($307K less) · smaller
Tustin, CA 92782 81%344$146,080$1,149,200$700 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($104K less) · smaller
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 79%356$137,639$903,200$685 lower income ($41K less) · cheaper homes ($350K less) · smaller
Campbell, CA 95008 79%11$141,131$1,633,600$1,000 lower income ($38K less) · pricier homes ($380K more) · smaller
Bellevue, WA 98005 79%703$160,849$1,519,500$613 pricier homes ($266K more) · smaller
Redmond, WA 98052 79%707$163,460$1,180,600$620 cheaper homes ($73K less) · more renters
Carlsbad, CA 92011 78%396$159,235$1,302,600$770 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller · older residents
Encinitas, CA 92024 78%400$158,507$1,612,000$993 pricier homes ($359K more) · smaller · older residents
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688 77%356$152,528$906,100$637 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($347K less) · smaller
San Diego, CA 92126 76%412$126,913$865,400$643 lower income ($52K less) · cheaper homes ($388K less)
Newark, CA 94560 76%10$169,064$1,142,800$706 cheaper homes ($110K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Irvine, CA 92604 75%347$133,869$1,058,000$830 lower income ($45K less) · cheaper homes ($195K less) · smaller
Lake Forest, CA 92630 75%353$125,853$910,300$637 lower income ($53K less) · cheaper homes ($343K less)
Laguna Hills, CA 92653 75%355$133,194$1,063,300$666 lower income ($45K less) · cheaper homes ($190K less) · smaller
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 75%359$140,452$1,190,900$731 lower income ($38K less) · cheaper homes ($62K less) · older residents
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 75%37$142,586$1,076,600$621 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($177K less) · smaller

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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