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 Johnstown, NY 12095

Johnstown: median income $69,469, home value $168,700, $131/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Scranton, PA 18512 95%126$64,708$176,100$130 Very close on everything we compare
Lewistown, PA 17044 90%234$59,935$142,600$125 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Kingston, PA 18704 90%143$64,444$162,000$129 larger
Wilkes Barre, PA 18705 90%142$59,344$140,700$118 cheaper homes ($28K less) · younger residents
Wilkes Barre, PA 18706 90%147$58,558$138,300$121 cheaper homes ($30K less) · newer homes
Webster City, IA 50595 90%986$69,167$153,800$116 more single-family homes
Washington, IA 52353 90%894$63,047$160,500$128 more single-family homes
Saint Johnsbury, VT 05819 89%154$62,411$197,500$171 pricier homes ($29K more)
Springfield, OH 45504 89%533$69,960$180,600$151 Very close on everything we compare
Williamsport, PA 17702 88%186$70,210$196,900$146 pricier homes ($28K more) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Sunbury, PA 17801 88%193$60,664$153,500$110 Very close on everything we compare
Carbondale, PA 18407 88%114$59,652$162,800$108 newer homes
Scranton, PA 18504 88%129$55,036$160,900$130 larger
Nanticoke, PA 18634 88%151$61,439$111,700$108 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Pittston, PA 18641 88%135$75,708$151,700$154 smaller · older residents
Midland, PA 15059 87%354$66,231$137,500$131 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Tyrone, PA 16686 87%257$69,008$173,000$115 Very close on everything we compare
Pottsville, PA 17901 87%186$62,484$152,100$103 larger · 5 min longer commute
Tamaqua, PA 18252 87%173$65,257$156,300$122 8 min longer commute
Pittston, PA 18643 87%136$63,125$174,500$128 newer homes
Canton, OH 44708 87%393$63,706$171,700$149 larger · newer homes
Waynesburg, PA 15370 86%370$65,511$192,700$111 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972 86%188$68,558$169,600$137 7 min longer commute · newer homes
Freeland, PA 18224 86%158$69,620$130,400$94 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Pittston, PA 18640 86%137$60,862$147,500$116 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.