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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 San Jose, CA 95124

San Jose: median income $185,926, home value $1,666,300, $1,134/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
San Jose, CA 95132 88%11$178,611$1,349,100$942 cheaper homes ($317K less)
San Jose, CA 95125 86%3$160,738$1,694,300$1,083 lower income ($25K less) · pricier homes ($28K more) · more apartments and townhomes
San Jose, CA 95118 84%2$152,682$1,494,600$1,084 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($172K less) · smaller
San Jose, CA 95130 84%4$159,556$1,839,600$1,324 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($173K more) · smaller
Mill Valley, CA 94941 82%55$209,870$2M+*$1,120 pricier homes ($334K more) · smaller · older residents
Bellevue, WA 98008 80%716$184,583$1,206,200$671 cheaper homes ($460K less) · smaller
Livermore, CA 94550 79%31$180,295$1,202,500$666 cheaper homes ($464K less) · newer homes
San Jose, CA 95119 79%8$174,375$1,247,800$841 cheaper homes ($419K less) · smaller · newer homes
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 78%305$204,306$2M+*$1,538 pricier homes ($334K more) · smaller
La Crescenta, CA 91214 78%294$140,121$1,135,200$782 lower income ($46K less) · cheaper homes ($531K less) · smaller
Fremont, CA 94555 78%23$219,938$1,376,600$962 higher income ($34K more) · cheaper homes ($290K less) · newer homes
San Diego, CA 92106 77%410$142,897$1,515,200$973 lower income ($43K less) · cheaper homes ($151K less) · smaller
Pleasanton, CA 94566 77%28$191,155$1,656,900$816 older residents · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
San Anselmo, CA 94960 77%62$185,170$1,674,500$991 smaller · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Encinitas, CA 92024 76%392$158,507$1,612,000$993 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($54K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Burlingame, CA 94010 76%33$196,882$2M+*$1,503 pricier homes ($334K more) · more apartments and townhomes · less walkable
San Jose, CA 95129 76%5$195,708$2M+*$1,469 pricier homes ($334K more) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275 75%314$179,469$1,612,000$781 cheaper homes ($54K less) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Palo Alto, CA 94303 75%19$151,609$1,826,200$1,065 lower income ($34K less) · pricier homes ($160K more) · more renters
Newark, CA 94560 75%20$169,064$1,142,800$706 cheaper homes ($524K less)
Los Gatos, CA 95032 75%2$203,727$2M+*$1,206 pricier homes ($334K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 74%292$189,713$2M+*$1,150 pricier homes ($334K more) · smaller · older residents
San Carlos, CA 94070 74%25$240,074$2M+*$1,361 higher income ($54K more) · pricier homes ($334K more) · smaller
San Mateo, CA 94402 74%30$172,522$2M+*$1,372 pricier homes ($334K more) · smaller · more renters
Fremont, CA 94536 74%21$167,662$1,287,800$932 cheaper homes ($379K less) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes

* 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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