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 Lincoln, NE 68504

Lincoln: median income $56,213, home value $184,500, $158/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tallahassee, FL 32301 89%999$50,942$226,700$188 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger
Lexington, KY 40517 89%678$53,670$216,900$169 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Madison, WI 53713 88%403$58,017$255,600$229 pricier homes ($71K more)
Lexington, KY 40504 87%674$46,055$222,600$184 pricier homes ($38K more)
Orlando, FL 32811 84%1,209$54,082$218,900$177 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Grand Forks, ND 58203 83%490$60,474$207,100$261 more homeowners
Corpus Christi, TX 78412 83%908$61,215$197,500$147 larger · more homeowners
Greensboro, NC 27401 82%969$47,972$156,500$177 cheaper homes ($28K less) · less walkable
Indianapolis, IN 46224 82%551$55,986$181,600$147 larger · older homes
Fargo, ND 58102 82%420$59,533$242,200$144 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger · more homeowners
Fargo, ND 58103 82%416$58,801$242,400$159 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger · older residents
Winston-Salem, NC 27101 81%945$44,198$221,000$154 pricier homes ($37K more) · older residents · less walkable
Columbia, SC 29210 81%971$50,871$194,400$118 larger · older residents · less walkable
Oklahoma City, OK 73105 81%371$50,102$162,000$185 smaller · more single-family homes · older homes
Tulsa, OK 74136 81%332$51,820$298,100$130 pricier homes ($114K more) · larger · older residents
Henrico, VA 23294 80%1,044$64,164$294,500$223 pricier homes ($110K more) · less walkable
Norfolk, VA 23504 80%1,128$44,659$269,400$182 pricier homes ($85K more)
Columbus, OH 43219 80%724$52,094$199,200$163 larger · more single-family homes
Milwaukee, WI 53225 80%470$56,545$188,400$163 older homes
Fort Worth, TX 76104 80%562$61,658$162,700$175 Very close on everything we compare
Daytona Beach, FL 32114 79%1,191$41,736$199,500$166 larger
Houston, TX 77092 79%763$58,728$242,900$200 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Kansas City, KS 66112 78%155$62,313$199,700$159 more homeowners
San Antonio, TX 78240 78%790$63,351$257,500$166 pricier homes ($73K more) · larger
Oklahoma City, OK 73114 77%367$54,936$156,700$163 cheaper homes ($28K less) · 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.