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.

Reset

Towns most like Sunbury, PA 17801

Sunbury: median income $60,664, home value $153,500, $110/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Newark, NY 14513 96%153$65,309$150,300$121 Very close on everything we compare
Wayne, MI 48184 94%355$59,171$158,000$124 Very close on everything we compare
Massena, NY 13662 92%298$59,106$119,400$115 cheaper homes ($34K less)
La Salle, IL 61301 92%642$60,328$129,000$104 smaller
Gloversville, NY 12078 91%197$58,367$136,100$130 younger residents
Waterloo, NY 13165 91%142$59,981$121,600$125 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller
Herkimer, NY 13350 91%176$56,157$136,800$108 smaller
Oneida, NY 13421 91%165$65,752$162,000$136 Very close on everything we compare
Moundsville, WV 26041 91%218$54,419$144,700$109 Very close on everything we compare
Weirton, WV 26062 91%201$60,702$134,700$133 Very close on everything we compare
New Castle, IN 47362 91%456$60,258$146,800$113 larger
Owego, NY 13827 90%91$72,769$156,400$131 Very close on everything we compare
Binghamton, NY 13904 90%99$53,984$121,100$106 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller
Albion, NY 14411 90%180$55,641$114,700$121 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Saint Albans, WV 25177 90%319$55,046$139,900$116 Very close on everything we compare
East Liverpool, OH 43920 90%200$50,251$116,200$132 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Bucyrus, OH 44820 90%324$58,223$141,400$132 Very close on everything we compare
Galion, OH 44833 90%315$60,151$145,500$129 Very close on everything we compare
Greenville, OH 45331 90%416$53,801$166,200$129 Very close on everything we compare
Marion, IN 46952 90%466$52,880$146,700$111 Very close on everything we compare
Peru, IN 46970 90%486$57,842$118,700$88 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Mount Clemens, MI 48043 90%337$52,161$179,400$124 pricier homes ($26K more)
Hibbing, MN 55746 90%918$55,823$134,600$116 7 min shorter commute
Fulton, NY 13069 89%171$63,113$121,900$145 cheaper homes ($32K less) · younger residents
Batavia, NY 14020 89%165$62,655$160,800$147 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.