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 Wilkes Barre, PA 18702

Wilkes Barre: median income $56,378, home value $131,900, $109/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rock Island, IL 61201 94%766$59,396$125,600$121 Very close on everything we compare
Gloversville, NY 12078 92%147$58,367$136,100$130 smaller
Evansville, IN 47714 92%665$55,910$133,400$109 Very close on everything we compare
Pontiac, MI 48341 92%399$51,390$150,500$119 smaller
Rockford, IL 61103 92%689$51,161$115,500$98 smaller
Johnson City, NY 13790 90%63$59,045$127,200$122 smaller
Binghamton, NY 13901 90%64$55,523$158,300$131 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Jamestown, NY 14701 90%189$49,685$105,300$104 cheaper homes ($27K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Clarksburg, WV 26301 90%275$49,816$133,300$107 more single-family homes
Batavia, NY 14020 89%175$62,655$160,800$147 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Port Huron, MI 48060 89%364$53,018$160,900$136 pricier homes ($29K more)
Amsterdam, NY 12010 88%144$63,696$180,200$134 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller
Utica, NY 13502 88%133$57,835$158,000$154 pricier homes ($26K more) · more walkable
Danville, VA 24541 88%376$51,427$145,100$115 newer homes
Richmond, IN 47374 88%488$50,766$130,700$124 more single-family homes
Kankakee, IL 60901 88%629$58,309$151,200$135 Very close on everything we compare
Auburn, NY 13021 87%125$60,712$180,700$144 pricier homes ($49K more) · older residents
Fulton, NY 13069 87%149$63,113$121,900$145 smaller
Watertown, NY 13601 87%190$58,791$172,600$144 pricier homes ($41K more)
Bedford, OH 44146 87%299$54,925$155,000$146 newer homes
Elkhart, IN 46516 87%528$56,492$153,400$147 Very close on everything we compare
Jackson, MI 49203 87%451$56,201$159,100$133 pricier homes ($27K more) · more single-family homes
Moline, IL 61265 87%763$66,933$147,000$131 Very close on everything we compare
Galesburg, IL 61401 87%759$50,546$100,600$91 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Mattoon, IL 61938 87%674$57,503$111,700$107 smaller · more single-family homes

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.