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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 Sebastopol, CA 95472

Sebastopol: median income $108,925, home value $1,020,100, $619/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bonita, CA 91902 89%513$122,524$984,900$532 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller · younger residents
Arroyo Grande, CA 93420 89%259$110,553$917,900$572 cheaper homes ($102K less)
Sonoma, CA 95476 88%22$105,374$896,900$609 cheaper homes ($123K less) · more walkable
Santa Rosa, CA 95409 87%12$107,867$802,000$445 cheaper homes ($218K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Novato, CA 94947 86%25$128,766$1,017,600$602 more walkable
Belmar, NJ 07719 84%2,578$119,828$700,900$488 cheaper homes ($319K less)
Los Osos, CA 93402 84%240$109,090$806,800$643 cheaper homes ($213K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Novato, CA 94945 84%24$107,790$1,124,100$560 pricier homes ($104K more) · smaller · more walkable
Diamond Bar, CA 91765 83%413$105,565$915,100$560 cheaper homes ($105K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Napa, CA 94558 83%32$113,269$890,500$550 cheaper homes ($130K less) · larger · younger residents
Soquel, CA 95073 83%108$118,169$1,062,800$699 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller · younger residents
East Hampton, NY 11937 82%2,662$129,883$1,115,100$875 pricier homes ($95K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Petaluma, CA 94952 82%14$117,343$1,041,100$656 younger residents · more renters · more walkable
Santa Rosa, CA 95405 82%10$118,299$788,000$455 cheaper homes ($232K less) · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Wakefield, RI 02879 81%2,687$112,231$564,700$445 cheaper homes ($455K less)
Escondido, CA 92029 81%487$124,726$985,500$497 cheaper homes ($35K less) · younger residents · newer homes
San Diego, CA 92119 81%506$113,435$879,200$605 cheaper homes ($141K less) · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Ojai, CA 93023 81%338$80,927$911,400$774 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($109K less)
Healdsburg, CA 95448 81%16$105,120$1,048,300$701 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Vashon, WA 98070 81%624$120,571$790,700$530 cheaper homes ($229K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91737 80%415$122,334$878,400$459 cheaper homes ($142K less) · younger residents · newer homes
La Mesa, CA 91941 80%509$115,381$928,700$525 cheaper homes ($91K less) · younger residents
Mission Viejo, CA 92692 80%440$131,175$1,037,300$636 larger · more walkable · newer homes
Aptos, CA 95003 80%111$148,412$1,198,700$764 higher income ($39K more) · pricier homes ($179K more)
Anacortes, WA 98221 80%698$96,528$713,100$419 cheaper homes ($307K less) · newer homes

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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