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.

Reset

Towns most like Elkhorn, NE 68022

Elkhorn: median income $148,111, home value $462,800, $195/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lewis Center, OH 43035 96%697$154,683$456,400$210 Very close on everything we compare
Westfield, IN 46074 92%535$126,724$437,100$195 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Fort Mill, SC 29708 91%932$132,018$515,200$226 pricier homes ($52K more)
Round Rock, TX 78681 91%748$137,819$497,300$223 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · older homes
Charlotte, NC 28278 90%928$125,470$460,600$207 6 min longer commute
Louisville, KY 40245 90%607$122,948$445,300$182 lower income ($25K less)
Saint Paul, MN 55129 90%301$143,795$534,900$199 pricier homes ($72K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Apex, NC 27502 89%1,014$143,922$550,900$241 pricier homes ($88K more)
Knoxville, TN 37932 89%749$119,703$463,100$223 lower income ($28K less)
Roanoke, TX 76262 89%573$151,250$577,100$248 pricier homes ($114K more)
Glen Allen, VA 23059 88%1,024$157,897$593,700$238 pricier homes ($131K more)
Collierville, TN 38017 88%558$138,677$495,200$180 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · older residents
Mason, OH 45040 88%642$133,240$440,000$209 larger · older residents · older homes
Lake Saint Louis, MO 63367 88%336$137,648$409,100$183 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Apex, NC 27539 87%1,014$145,947$565,600$237 pricier homes ($103K more) · 7 min longer commute
New Albany, OH 43054 87%709$148,100$510,600$234 pricier homes ($48K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Fishers, IN 46037 87%547$141,810$434,200$165 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 7 min longer commute
Urbandale, IA 50323 87%130$175,944$486,800$244 higher income ($28K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Castle Rock, CO 80109 87%475$155,025$675,500$224 pricier homes ($213K more) · 5 min longer commute
Colorado Springs, CO 80924 87%475$139,447$656,800$207 pricier homes ($194K more) · smaller
Madison, AL 35756 86%688$129,852$377,400$172 cheaper homes ($85K less)
Madison, AL 35758 86%687$117,380$370,300$180 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($93K less) · older homes
Verona, WI 53593 86%363$135,023$483,700$266 Very close on everything we compare
Lakeville, MN 55044 86%279$141,551$488,600$201 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · more homeowners
Spring, TX 77389 86%773$140,683$417,500$179 cheaper homes ($45K less) · 9 min longer commute

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.