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 Amsterdam, NY 12010

Amsterdam: median income $63,696, home value $180,200, $134/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kingston, PA 18704 93%144$64,444$162,000$129 Very close on everything we compare
Pottsville, PA 17901 92%187$62,484$152,100$103 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Lewistown, PA 17044 90%238$59,935$142,600$125 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Tamaqua, PA 18252 90%174$65,257$156,300$122 smaller
Claremont, NH 03743 88%98$59,625$206,600$190 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Pittston, PA 18640 88%139$60,862$147,500$116 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller · newer homes
Wilkes Barre, PA 18702 88%144$56,378$131,900$109 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Carbondale, PA 18407 87%115$59,652$162,800$108 smaller · newer homes
Scranton, PA 18504 87%130$55,036$160,900$130 Very close on everything we compare
Scranton, PA 18512 87%127$64,708$176,100$130 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Wilkes Barre, PA 18705 87%143$59,344$140,700$118 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller · younger residents
Mount Clemens, MI 48043 87%441$52,161$179,400$124 smaller
Torrington, CT 06790 86%95$70,912$215,600$191 pricier homes ($35K more) · newer homes
Uniontown, PA 15401 86%356$53,925$155,600$123 more single-family homes
Butler, PA 16001 86%328$63,635$199,100$156 more single-family homes · newer homes
Meadville, PA 16335 86%318$57,591$161,600$133 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Lock Haven, PA 17745 86%208$58,555$177,100$120 smaller · newer homes
Scranton, PA 18505 86%131$52,398$156,700$121 Very close on everything we compare
Nanticoke, PA 18634 86%152$61,439$111,700$108 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller
Wheeling, WV 26003 86%387$57,703$166,100$132 more single-family homes
Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221 86%394$63,342$167,300$170 younger residents
Wayne, MI 48184 86%469$59,171$158,000$124 smaller
Waynesburg, PA 15370 85%375$65,511$192,700$111 smaller · newer homes
Lebanon, PA 17046 85%211$62,221$191,000$167 newer homes
Columbia, PA 17512 85%233$66,684$245,200$169 pricier homes ($65K more) · smaller · more walkable

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.