OfferBackedBuyer Tools
Step 1 · Thinking about buying

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 North Adams, MA 01247

North Adams: median income $52,330, home value $205,200, $173/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Scranton, PA 18509 89%158$51,062$183,700$129 younger residents
Scranton, PA 18504 87%160$55,036$160,900$130 cheaper homes ($44K less) · younger residents
Scranton, PA 18505 86%160$52,398$156,700$121 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Saint Johnsbury, VT 05819 85%131$62,411$197,500$171 smaller · newer homes
Glens Falls, NY 12801 85%51$67,577$212,500$181 younger residents
Scranton, PA 18508 84%158$49,895$145,400$115 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Great Falls, MT 59401 84%1,873$55,299$223,200$159 younger residents
Rockland, ME 04841 82%222$56,533$245,800$215 pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Auburn, NY 13021 82%177$60,712$180,700$144 larger · newer homes
Claremont, NH 03743 81%60$59,625$206,600$190 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Scranton, PA 18512 81%156$64,708$176,100$130 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Lynchburg, VA 24504 81%485$52,571$179,700$124 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · more walkable
New Orleans, LA 70121 81%1,291$59,562$247,900$175 pricier homes ($43K more) · newer homes
Amsterdam, NY 12010 80%59$63,696$180,200$134 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger
Troy, NY 12182 80%30$56,984$212,600$170 younger residents · 6 min longer commute · more walkable
Williamsport, PA 17701 80%225$53,237$183,900$127 larger · younger residents · newer homes
Auburn, ME 04210 79%172$66,647$282,000$208 pricier homes ($77K more) · larger · newer homes
Oneida, NY 13421 79%133$65,752$162,000$136 cheaper homes ($43K less) · newer homes
Johnson City, NY 13790 79%152$59,045$127,200$122 cheaper homes ($78K less) · newer homes
Binghamton, NY 13901 79%148$55,523$158,300$131 cheaper homes ($47K less) · newer homes
Batavia, NY 14020 79%260$62,655$160,800$147 cheaper homes ($44K less) · newer homes
Kingston, PA 18704 79%175$64,444$162,000$129 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · newer homes
Bennington, VT 05201 78%14$59,798$212,700$193 newer homes
Rutland, VT 05701 78%64$61,610$217,700$192 older residents · more walkable · newer homes
Johnstown, NY 12095 78%69$69,469$168,700$131 cheaper homes ($37K less)

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.