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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 Santa Clara, CA 95050

Santa Clara: median income $138,466, home value $1,464,700, $1,067/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
San Jose, CA 95128 94%2$131,152$1,262,600$897 cheaper homes ($202K less)
Campbell, CA 95008 93%5$141,131$1,633,600$1,000 pricier homes ($169K more)
San Diego, CA 92107 92%415$113,117$1,379,900$964 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($85K less)
El Segundo, CA 90245 91%309$150,737$1,587,500$1,110 pricier homes ($123K more) · smaller
Los Angeles, CA 90045 88%308$135,032$1,399,100$874 cheaper homes ($66K less) · 6 min longer commute
Los Angeles, CA 90066 88%304$114,141$1,695,400$1,042 pricier homes ($231K more) · 6 min longer commute
Culver City, CA 90232 88%305$122,396$1,570,600$988 pricier homes ($106K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
San Jose, CA 95117 87%3$116,348$1,520,700$874 pricier homes ($56K more)
Los Angeles, CA 90064 85%303$135,383$1,765,300$997 pricier homes ($301K more)
Costa Mesa, CA 92626 85%341$114,249$1,105,900$835 cheaper homes ($359K less)
San Diego, CA 92109 83%412$122,128$1,226,900$1,117 cheaper homes ($238K less)
Costa Mesa, CA 92627 83%342$108,994$1,125,600$866 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($339K less) · larger
Studio City, CA 91604 82%298$141,875$1,700,300$822 pricier homes ($236K more) · 8 min longer commute
Newport Beach, CA 92663 82%343$141,541$2M+*$1,469 pricier homes ($535K more) · smaller · older residents
Fremont, CA 94538 82%13$147,301$1,136,600$894 cheaper homes ($328K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
San Mateo, CA 94401 80%26$122,227$1,184,500$789 cheaper homes ($280K less) · less walkable
San Mateo, CA 94403 80%23$174,917$1,746,300$1,252 higher income ($36K more) · pricier homes ($282K more) · 5 min longer commute
Venice, CA 90291 79%303$122,738$2M+*$1,244 pricier homes ($535K more) · smaller
Torrance, CA 90503 79%316$125,912$1,099,700$745 cheaper homes ($365K less) · older residents · 7 min longer commute
San Francisco, CA 94132 79%38$112,292$1,470,700$843 lower income ($26K less) · 7 min longer commute · older homes
San Jose, CA 95126 79%3$128,983$1,214,300$744 cheaper homes ($250K less) · newer homes
San Diego, CA 92116 78%418$98,154$940,700$925 lower income ($40K less) · cheaper homes ($524K less)
Sunnyvale, CA 94086 78%4$177,054$1,810,200$1,032 higher income ($39K more) · pricier homes ($346K more) · newer homes
Alameda, CA 94501 78%34$127,906$1,250,300$717 cheaper homes ($214K less) · larger · 10 min longer commute
San Rafael, CA 94901 78%53$115,330$1,512,600$730 pricier homes ($48K more) · older residents

* 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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