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 Pittston, PA 18640

Pittston: median income $60,862, home value $147,500, $116/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Canton, OH 44709 95%293$57,842$161,200$144 Very close on everything we compare
Binghamton, NY 13901 94%57$55,523$158,300$131 Very close on everything we compare
Batavia, NY 14020 94%169$62,655$160,800$147 Very close on everything we compare
Pontiac, MI 48341 94%396$51,390$150,500$119 Very close on everything we compare
Flint, MI 48532 93%427$61,998$169,200$109 Very close on everything we compare
Wayne, MI 48184 92%396$59,171$158,000$124 Very close on everything we compare
East Moline, IL 61244 92%758$63,819$139,400$129 Very close on everything we compare
Johnson City, NY 13790 91%57$59,045$127,200$122 6 min shorter commute
Norwich, NY 13815 91%86$61,469$133,900$113 5 min shorter commute
Newark, NY 14513 91%137$65,309$150,300$121 more homeowners
Charleston, WV 25311 91%370$62,800$137,200$127 smaller
Rockford, IL 61108 91%684$64,415$144,800$133 larger
Gloversville, NY 12078 90%142$58,367$136,100$130 older homes
Fulton, NY 13069 90%142$63,113$121,900$145 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Binghamton, NY 13904 90%55$53,984$121,100$106 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Danville, VA 24541 90%382$51,427$145,100$115 larger
Huntington, WV 25701 90%406$56,292$164,300$115 Very close on everything we compare
Bedford, OH 44146 90%297$54,925$155,000$146 larger
Niles, OH 44446 90%258$50,468$114,400$127 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Dayton, OH 45426 90%460$51,908$123,900$113 older residents
Evansville, IN 47714 90%666$55,910$133,400$109 larger · younger residents
Center Line, MI 48015 90%381$54,703$156,600$142 smaller
Mount Clemens, MI 48043 90%375$52,161$179,400$124 pricier homes ($32K more)
Saginaw, MI 48638 90%444$69,459$172,600$113 pricier homes ($25K more)
Essexville, MI 48732 90%439$57,903$169,600$133 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.