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 Jamestown, NY 14701

Jamestown: median income $49,685, home value $105,300, $104/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Galesburg, IL 61401 91%580$50,546$100,600$91 newer homes
Wilkes Barre, PA 18702 90%189$56,378$131,900$109 pricier homes ($27K more) · 5 min longer commute
Quincy, IL 62301 90%649$52,055$135,100$111 pricier homes ($30K more)
Danville, IL 61832 88%456$47,332$82,400$91 Very close on everything we compare
Scranton, PA 18504 87%189$55,036$160,900$130 pricier homes ($56K more) · smaller
Scranton, PA 18505 87%191$52,398$156,700$121 pricier homes ($51K more) · smaller
Rockford, IL 61103 87%504$51,161$115,500$98 smaller · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Altoona, PA 16602 86%118$55,046$125,700$93 Very close on everything we compare
Scranton, PA 18508 86%190$49,895$145,400$115 pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller
Clarksburg, WV 26301 86%202$49,816$133,300$107 pricier homes ($28K more) · newer homes
Jackson, MI 49202 86%265$42,632$116,100$122 smaller · newer homes
Rock Island, IL 61201 86%584$59,396$125,600$121 newer homes
Mattoon, IL 61938 84%510$57,503$111,700$107 smaller · newer homes
Saint Joseph, MO 64501 84%828$46,731$98,600$114 smaller
Altoona, PA 16601 83%117$58,070$147,200$88 pricier homes ($42K more) · more homeowners
Nanticoke, PA 18634 83%178$61,439$111,700$108 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Wilkes Barre, PA 18705 83%184$59,344$140,700$118 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Richmond, IN 47374 83%333$50,766$130,700$124 pricier homes ($25K more) · newer homes
Williamsport, PA 17701 82%130$53,237$183,900$127 pricier homes ($79K more) · newer homes
Parkersburg, WV 26101 82%229$48,710$117,500$105 newer homes
Steubenville, OH 43952 82%139$47,624$124,300$131 smaller · younger residents
Evansville, IN 47714 82%523$55,910$133,400$109 pricier homes ($28K more) · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Pontiac, MI 48341 82%211$51,390$150,500$119 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Freeport, IL 61032 82%532$56,593$112,300$91 older residents · newer homes
Decatur, IL 62522 82%531$50,669$113,600$75 smaller · younger residents

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.