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 Scranton, PA 18505

Scranton: median income $52,398, home value $156,700, $121/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pontiac, MI 48341 95%401$51,390$150,500$119 Very close on everything we compare
Johnson City, NY 13790 92%53$59,045$127,200$122 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Binghamton, NY 13901 91%53$55,523$158,300$131 newer homes
Augusta, GA 30904 90%648$46,696$199,200$134 pricier homes ($43K more)
Rockford, IL 61103 90%693$51,161$115,500$98 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Auburn, NY 13021 89%116$60,712$180,700$144 larger
Utica, NY 13502 89%121$57,835$158,000$154 larger
Lynchburg, VA 24504 89%332$52,571$179,700$124 smaller · more walkable
Canton, OH 44709 89%300$57,842$161,200$144 newer homes
Mount Clemens, MI 48043 89%380$52,161$179,400$124 6 min longer commute
Kalamazoo, MI 49001 89%512$56,432$157,300$137 younger residents
Gloversville, NY 12078 88%134$58,367$136,100$130 Very close on everything we compare
Watertown, NY 13601 88%179$58,791$172,600$144 larger
Huntington, WV 25701 88%414$56,292$164,300$115 Very close on everything we compare
Clarksburg, WV 26301 88%286$49,816$133,300$107 Very close on everything we compare
Bedford, OH 44146 88%304$54,925$155,000$146 newer homes
Evansville, IN 47710 88%674$47,292$147,300$125 newer homes
Batavia, NY 14020 87%171$62,655$160,800$147 Very close on everything we compare
Jamestown, NY 14701 87%191$49,685$105,300$104 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger
Danville, VA 24541 87%389$51,427$145,100$115 newer homes
Mansfield, OH 44907 87%360$48,008$144,800$142 newer homes
Evansville, IN 47714 87%673$55,910$133,400$109 larger
Center Line, MI 48015 87%386$54,703$156,600$142 smaller · newer homes
Rock Island, IL 61201 87%771$59,396$125,600$121 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
North Adams, MA 01247 86%160$52,330$205,200$173 pricier homes ($49K more)

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.