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 18519

Scranton: median income $58,500, home value $181,000, $142/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Salem, NJ 08079 92%128$54,641$196,700$125 larger
Whiting, IN 46394 91%612$66,176$173,200$136 larger
Ellenville, NY 12428 90%68$63,145$238,400$199 pricier homes ($57K more)
Duluth, MN 55808 90%897$62,031$174,200$160 Very close on everything we compare
Springfield, VT 05156 89%209$66,679$204,300$162 larger · newer homes
Saint Johnsbury, VT 05819 89%279$62,411$197,500$171 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Adams, MA 01220 88%155$58,929$209,900$193 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Mount Clemens, MI 48043 87%379$52,161$179,400$124 larger
Herkimer, NY 13350 86%117$56,157$136,800$108 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Oneida, NY 13421 86%116$65,752$162,000$136 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Wayne, MI 48184 86%401$59,171$158,000$124 larger · newer homes
Claremont, NH 03743 84%217$59,625$206,600$190 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · newer homes
Dayton, KY 41074 84%490$66,087$164,300$157 more walkable
Johnstown, NY 12095 83%129$69,469$168,700$131 larger · 8 min shorter commute
Oakfield, NY 14125 83%176$70,294$161,200$144 less walkable
Nunda, NY 14517 83%141$56,088$150,000$112 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller · younger residents
Elmira, NY 14903 83%80$67,012$129,400$127 cheaper homes ($52K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Lynchburg, VA 24504 83%333$52,571$179,700$124 larger · 6 min shorter commute · more walkable
Cincinnati, OH 45218 83%489$71,000$179,900$137 Very close on everything we compare
Center Line, MI 48015 83%385$54,703$156,600$142 larger · newer homes
Hoquiam, WA 98550 83%2,381$55,040$238,900$155 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger
Bellows Falls, VT 05101 82%203$70,299$209,100$139 pricier homes ($28K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Gloversville, NY 12078 82%133$58,367$136,100$130 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Hoosick Falls, NY 12090 82%156$68,056$173,800$153 more homeowners
Medina, NY 14103 82%187$69,926$144,700$118 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · less walkable

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.