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 18701

Wilkes Barre: median income $33,329, home value $203,600, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hartford, CT 06120 71%170$34,830$184,400$156 larger · older residents · more walkable
Minneapolis, MN 55454 69%911$23,100$186,600$127 larger · more walkable
Lansing, MI 48933 65%457$33,589$112,900$83 cheaper homes ($91K less) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Lincoln, NE 68508 64%1,083$31,191$143,600$329 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Milwaukee, WI 53233 63%629$23,750$137,500$146 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger · more walkable
Lubbock, TX 79401 63%1,513$26,980$105,600$114 cheaper homes ($98K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Chattanooga, TN 37410 62%669$28,708$153,400$174 cheaper homes ($50K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Dallas, TX 75237 62%1,297$44,318$247,500$201 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · older residents
Worcester, MA 01608 61%222$45,687$153,600$252 cheaper homes ($50K less) · older residents · more walkable
Huntsville, AL 35816 61%737$40,242$128,900$128 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger · more homeowners
Bryan, TX 77801 60%1,355$39,846$162,300$162 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Knoxville, TN 37915 59%565$26,379$210,800$322 older residents · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Springfield, MO 65806 59%971$28,165$88,600$138 cheaper homes ($115K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Fresno, CA 93701 59%2,353$32,768$246,400$172 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger · older residents
Cincinnati, OH 45232 58%477$28,367$130,500$87 cheaper homes ($73K less) · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401 58%815$35,060$157,100$198 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller · older residents
Springfield, MA 01107 57%180$35,632$243,600$187 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · older residents
Cleveland, OH 44115 57%300$22,056$178,000$205 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · more walkable
San Antonio, TX 78229 57%1,507$46,574$228,900$135 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger · older residents
Albany, NY 12206 55%146$41,548$162,300$112 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · older residents
Tallahassee, FL 32304 55%882$32,348$150,900$148 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger · newer homes
Minneapolis, MN 55404 55%912$41,940$291,600$223 pricier homes ($88K more) · larger · older residents
Jacksonville, FL 32202 54%820$34,825$268,800$159 pricier homes ($65K more) · older residents · more walkable
Milwaukee, WI 53205 54%629$31,529$124,200$96 cheaper homes ($79K less) · larger · more homeowners
Fresno, CA 93721 54%2,353$40,033$243,800$157 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · older residents

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.