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.

Reset

Towns most like Scranton, PA 18503

Scranton: median income $36,107, home value $267,200, $185/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lafayette, IN 47901 64%590$47,206$256,500$144 larger · 12 min shorter commute
Saint Louis, MO 63103 57%792$40,943$202,900$124 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Schenectady, NY 12305 52%131$53,326$217,500$213 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · 10 min shorter commute
Buffalo, NY 14201 50%194$40,512$337,600$194 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger · 10 min shorter commute
Peoria, IL 61602 50%726$33,750$231,000$103 cheaper homes ($36K less) · 17 min shorter commute · more walkable
Hartford, CT 06105 47%155$41,937$402,300$157 pricier homes ($135K more) · larger · older residents
Cleveland, OH 44106 47%308$43,170$255,700$144 larger · 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Los Angeles, CA 90058 47%2,357$37,557$464,200— pricier homes ($197K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Newark, NJ 07102 46%91$38,864$431,500$294 pricier homes ($164K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Richmond, VA 23219 46%283$57,507$380,700$361 pricier homes ($114K more) · larger · 10 min shorter commute
Worcester, MA 01608 45%207$45,687$153,600$252 cheaper homes ($114K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Baltimore, MD 21201 45%155$45,640$275,300$178 larger · 6 min shorter commute · more walkable
Muskegon, MI 49440 45%555$46,808$176,400$193 cheaper homes ($91K less) · 12 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Albany, NY 12207 44%130$58,998$232,000$78 cheaper homes ($35K less) · newer homes
Albany, NY 12210 43%130$55,843$228,100$142 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · older residents
Springfield, MA 01103 42%166$21,355$185,700$172 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger · older residents
Detroit, MI 48202 41%387$43,627$186,500$123 cheaper homes ($81K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
New Orleans, LA 70113 41%1,130$39,333$305,800$141 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger · older residents
Stockton, CA 95202 41%2,410$31,020$377,400$168 pricier homes ($110K more) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Chicago, IL 60637 40%617$43,609$257,300$187 larger · more homeowners
Wichita, KS 67202 40%1,179$58,234$407,100$275 pricier homes ($140K more) · 15 min shorter commute · more walkable
Cincinnati, OH 45219 39%492$35,657$207,900$164 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger · younger residents
Saint Louis, MO 63102 39%791$65,527$192,100$146 higher income ($29K more) · cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger
Albany, NY 12202 38%129$52,868$166,000$118 cheaper homes ($101K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Hartford, CT 06103 37%156$71,677$275,000$256 higher income ($36K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute

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.