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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 Hilmar, CA 95324

Hilmar: median income $76,316, home value $462,900, $331/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hughson, CA 95326 88%14$87,500$533,100$294 pricier homes ($70K more)
Exeter, CA 93221 87%123$86,940$360,900$269 cheaper homes ($102K less) · larger
Colusa, CA 95932 86%141$66,964$389,600$243 cheaper homes ($73K less) · older homes
Holtville, CA 92250 85%444$72,143$324,400$265 cheaper homes ($139K less)
Waterford, CA 95386 85%19$73,196$416,500$308 cheaper homes ($46K less) · 8 min longer commute
Orland, CA 95963 85%178$68,091$372,900$259 cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger
Kaunakakai, HI 96748 85%2,430$77,422$386,500$399 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Fowler, CA 93625 84%85$72,500$392,700$253 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Livingston, CA 95334 84%8$76,277$377,000$244 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger · younger residents
Kingsburg, CA 93631 83%96$79,228$396,800$276 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger · more homeowners
Brewster, WA 98812 83%743$59,297$354,500$273 cheaper homes ($108K less) · smaller
Arbuckle, CA 95912 82%128$86,457$435,800$301 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Burlington, WA 98233 82%769$87,614$502,100$348 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
French Camp, CA 95231 81%40$90,417$455,400— smaller · older homes
Chowchilla, CA 93610 80%39$68,083$373,000$203 cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger
Riverdale, CA 93656 80%87$72,333$294,600$228 cheaper homes ($168K less) · younger residents
Escalon, CA 95320 80%28$82,572$521,900$306 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger · more homeowners
Mount Angel, OR 97362 80%539$66,250$462,400$287 smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Sheridan, OR 97378 80%547$79,746$372,600$277 cheaper homes ($90K less) · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Sumas, WA 98295 80%802$98,965$456,200$296 smaller · 7 min longer commute
Tillamook, OR 97141 79%577$69,831$398,100$335 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger · older residents
Stayton, OR 97383 79%521$78,853$423,600$288 cheaper homes ($39K less) · more homeowners
Armona, CA 93202 78%99$64,276$284,100$283 cheaper homes ($179K less) · smaller · younger residents
Kerman, CA 93630 78%64$58,184$382,700$276 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger · younger residents
Greenfield, CA 93927 78%77$82,500$532,000$389 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger · younger residents

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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