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 Saint Johnsbury, VT 05819

Saint Johnsbury: median income $62,411, home value $197,500, $171/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Oneida, NY 13421 94%204$65,752$162,000$136 cheaper homes ($36K less)
New Orleans, LA 70121 94%1,407$59,562$247,900$175 pricier homes ($50K more)
Scranton, PA 18512 93%276$64,708$176,100$130 Very close on everything we compare
Sayre, PA 18840 91%283$59,214$171,300$136 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Brewer, ME 04412 90%162$66,613$245,300$194 pricier homes ($48K more)
Ellenville, NY 12428 90%223$63,145$238,400$199 pricier homes ($41K more) · 6 min longer commute
Syracuse, NY 13209 90%231$68,138$161,400$190 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Pittsburgh, PA 15214 90%490$61,645$185,900$169 larger · more walkable
Mobile, AL 36604 90%1,290$66,357$249,300$170 pricier homes ($52K more)
Canton, OH 44709 90%537$57,842$161,200$144 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Johnstown, NY 12095 89%154$69,469$168,700$131 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Old Forge, PA 18518 89%283$71,812$174,400$148 Very close on everything we compare
Scranton, PA 18519 89%279$58,500$181,000$142 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Pittston, PA 18643 89%287$63,125$174,500$128 Very close on everything we compare
Cincinnati, OH 45224 89%738$56,471$204,000$150 larger
Adams, MA 01220 88%137$58,929$209,900$193 older homes
Auburn, NY 13021 88%250$60,712$180,700$144 larger
Canton, OH 44708 88%540$63,706$171,700$149 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Duluth, MN 55808 88%988$62,031$174,200$160 smaller
Claremont, NH 03743 87%75$59,625$206,600$190 larger
Owego, NY 13827 87%267$72,769$156,400$131 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Batavia, NY 14020 87%324$62,655$160,800$147 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Avon, NY 14414 87%305$72,006$184,200$161 newer homes
Columbia, PA 17512 87%380$66,684$245,200$169 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger
Williamsport, PA 17702 87%340$70,210$196,900$146 Very close on everything we compare

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.