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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 Williamsport, PA 17701

Williamsport: median income $53,237, home value $183,900, $127/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Watertown, NY 13601 95%197$58,791$172,600$144 Very close on everything we compare
Dubuque, IA 52001 93%709$61,643$178,000$136 Very close on everything we compare
Scranton, PA 18505 92%70$52,398$156,700$121 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Binghamton, NY 13901 91%85$55,523$158,300$131 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Wilkes Barre, PA 18702 91%64$56,378$131,900$109 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Kingston, PA 18704 91%58$64,444$162,000$129 Very close on everything we compare
Augusta, GA 30904 91%603$46,696$199,200$134 smaller
Utica, NY 13502 90%158$57,835$158,000$154 cheaper homes ($26K less) · more walkable
Sheboygan, WI 53081 90%573$64,042$180,100$178 Very close on everything we compare
Waterville, ME 04901 88%438$57,403$204,700$181 smaller · newer homes
Auburn, NY 13021 88%119$60,712$180,700$144 older residents
Johnson City, NY 13790 88%81$59,045$127,200$122 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller
Louisville, KY 40214 88%513$54,931$184,600$146 7 min longer commute
Pontiac, MI 48341 88%338$51,390$150,500$119 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Meadville, PA 16335 87%165$57,591$161,600$133 smaller · older residents
Scranton, PA 18504 87%69$55,036$160,900$130 smaller · older homes
Huntington, WV 25701 87%349$56,292$164,300$115 smaller
Evansville, IN 47710 87%605$47,292$147,300$125 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Kalamazoo, MI 49001 87%446$56,432$157,300$137 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · younger residents
Fond Du Lac, WI 54935 87%608$63,144$180,200$169 newer homes
Quincy, IL 62301 87%759$52,055$135,100$111 cheaper homes ($49K less) · more single-family homes
Lewiston, ME 04240 86%398$55,393$235,100$196 pricier homes ($51K more)
Bedford, OH 44146 86%235$54,925$155,000$146 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Sandusky, OH 44870 86%296$62,082$163,200$139 Very close on everything we compare
Great Falls, MT 59401 86%1,732$55,299$223,200$159 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller

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.

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