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 Pottsville, PA 17901

Pottsville: median income $62,484, home value $152,100, $103/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Amsterdam, NY 12010 92%187$63,696$180,200$134 pricier homes ($28K more)
Gloversville, NY 12078 89%190$58,367$136,100$130 younger residents
Oneida, NY 13421 88%168$65,752$162,000$136 smaller
Batavia, NY 14020 88%190$62,655$160,800$147 Very close on everything we compare
Newark, NY 14513 88%170$65,309$150,300$121 smaller · newer homes
Johnstown, NY 12095 87%186$69,469$168,700$131 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Herkimer, NY 13350 86%174$56,157$136,800$108 smaller
Wayne, MI 48184 85%387$59,171$158,000$124 Very close on everything we compare
Auburn, NY 13021 84%156$60,712$180,700$144 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Owego, NY 13827 84%99$72,769$156,400$131 smaller
Mount Clemens, MI 48043 84%369$52,161$179,400$124 pricier homes ($27K more)
Binghamton, NY 13904 83%101$53,984$121,100$106 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Fulton, NY 13069 82%182$63,113$121,900$145 cheaper homes ($30K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Ilion, NY 13357 82%171$63,678$115,600$89 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Massena, NY 13662 82%301$59,106$119,400$115 cheaper homes ($33K less) · more single-family homes
Hornell, NY 14843 82%136$57,874$112,100$76 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller
Seneca Falls, NY 13148 81%157$65,313$149,300$124 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Waterloo, NY 13165 81%157$59,981$121,600$125 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller · newer homes
Norwich, NY 13815 81%133$61,469$133,900$113 smaller · 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Medina, NY 14103 81%208$69,926$144,700$118 smaller · more single-family homes
Wheeling, WV 26003 81%237$57,703$166,100$132 larger · more single-family homes
Canton, OH 44709 81%271$57,842$161,200$144 newer homes
Salem, NJ 08079 80%87$54,641$196,700$125 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller · more renters
Binghamton, NY 13901 80%102$55,523$158,300$131 younger residents · more renters · newer homes
Albion, NY 14411 80%204$55,641$114,700$121 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller

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.