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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 Rosa, CA 95403

Santa Rosa: median income $98,191, home value $693,000, $446/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Santa Rosa, CA 95401 97%3$93,615$630,900$479 cheaper homes ($62K less)
San Marcos, CA 92069 93%483$96,771$800,700$493 pricier homes ($108K more)
Escondido, CA 92026 91%485$104,561$714,300$468 6 min longer commute
Lakeside, CA 92040 89%508$107,937$723,200$496 pricier homes ($30K more) · more homeowners
San Diego, CA 92139 89%513$95,653$630,800$507 cheaper homes ($62K less) · 5 min longer commute
Vista, CA 92081 88%480$105,379$838,600$519 pricier homes ($146K more) · smaller
Rohnert Park, CA 94928 87%10$99,280$666,000$413 cheaper homes ($27K less) · younger residents
Santa Rosa, CA 95407 86%5$82,863$627,100$442 cheaper homes ($66K less) · younger residents
Honolulu, HI 96819 86%2,393$99,848$954,600$477 pricier homes ($262K more) · older homes
Silverdale, WA 98383 86%634$111,139$596,400$306 cheaper homes ($97K less) · smaller
Chula Vista, CA 91910 85%515$90,222$741,200$499 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger · more walkable
El Cajon, CA 92019 85%512$101,973$801,400$520 pricier homes ($108K more) · 6 min longer commute
Vista, CA 92083 85%477$86,974$658,200$528 cheaper homes ($35K less) · younger residents
Vista, CA 92084 85%478$98,577$824,400$470 pricier homes ($131K more) · 7 min longer commute
Atascadero, CA 93422 85%237$91,780$737,600$438 pricier homes ($45K more) · more single-family homes
Puyallup, WA 98372 85%603$98,152$589,900$325 cheaper homes ($103K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Spring Valley, CA 91977 84%512$99,657$665,600$527 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Escondido, CA 92027 84%488$93,338$691,000$453 7 min longer commute
Oxnard, CA 93036 84%354$101,445$678,000$455 more walkable
San Diego, CA 92154 83%518$94,901$639,200$448 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Camarillo, CA 93010 83%359$111,176$867,100$495 pricier homes ($174K more)
Beaverton, OR 97003 83%486$99,072$478,300$313 cheaper homes ($215K less) · smaller
Vancouver, WA 98684 83%494$90,620$459,200$303 cheaper homes ($234K less)
Sparks, NV 89434 82%179$91,507$457,000$302 cheaper homes ($236K less) · smaller
Newhall, CA 91321 82%368$91,092$691,600$413 9 min longer commute

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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