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 Lyons, NE 68038

Lyons: median income $51,362, home value $117,700, $112/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Winfield, IA 52659 93%266$55,125$110,900$156 Very close on everything we compare
Tatum, NM 88267 92%707$52,250$111,400— Very close on everything we compare
Sligo, PA 16255 91%879$56,058$119,300$93 Very close on everything we compare
Fairfax, MO 64446 91%125$56,949$101,800— Very close on everything we compare
Cottonwood Falls, KS 66845 91%248$51,771$89,700$106 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Brook, IN 47922 90%478$61,033$125,500$111 Very close on everything we compare
Fowler, IN 47944 90%484$55,242$131,400$120 larger
North English, IA 52316 90%228$60,768$150,600$94 pricier homes ($33K more)
Wenona, IL 61377 90%389$57,321$139,500$86 Very close on everything we compare
Port Allegany, PA 16743 89%934$54,083$120,600$107 larger
Mount Savage, MD 21545 89%931$60,264$130,700$111 Very close on everything we compare
Walhalla, ND 58282 89%484$52,083$107,300$121 newer homes
Troy, KS 66087 89%164$56,875$127,300$133 more homeowners
Rockwell City, IA 50579 88%99$61,108$126,000$118 larger
Toulon, IL 61483 88%347$63,558$109,100$110 5 min longer commute
Benld, IL 62009 88%401$45,217$85,100$95 cheaper homes ($33K less)
New Bethlehem, PA 16242 87%887$55,677$134,700$79 larger
Bellwood, PA 16617 87%944$52,609$145,500$121 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Audubon, IA 50025 87%81$52,438$118,100$97 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Hamburg, IA 51640 87%102$65,385$122,900$130 Very close on everything we compare
Sigourney, IA 52591 87%224$62,404$156,500$130 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
Mount Carroll, IL 61053 87%333$62,250$106,700$82 larger
Stockton, IL 61085 87%331$59,798$131,300$111 larger
Blue Rapids, KS 66411 87%157$57,361$85,900— cheaper homes ($32K less)
Horton, KS 66439 87%164$53,348$90,800$110 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger

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.