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 Lincoln, NE 68506

Lincoln: median income $72,637, home value $258,600, $157/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Louisville, KY 40220 96%613$78,434$264,200$160 Very close on everything we compare
Lansing, MI 48917 92%633$70,990$222,900$149 cheaper homes ($36K less)
North Little Rock, AR 72116 92%478$79,010$232,600$132 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Jacksonville, FL 32217 91%1,113$73,832$325,100$189 pricier homes ($67K more)
Pensacola, FL 32504 91%887$72,672$275,800$179 Very close on everything we compare
Dayton, OH 45429 91%662$80,210$238,700$166 Very close on everything we compare
Dayton, OH 45440 91%665$82,383$267,900$158 less walkable
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 91%272$73,439$194,000$133 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger
Pittsburgh, PA 15220 90%869$75,611$228,700$190 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Erie, PA 16509 90%862$68,846$220,500$169 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Albuquerque, NM 87112 90%665$73,937$281,400$209 larger
Lakeland, FL 33803 89%1,213$65,807$250,100$194 Very close on everything we compare
Louisville, KY 40242 89%613$75,417$299,600$174 pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller
Sioux Falls, SD 57103 89%190$72,831$269,500$173 Very close on everything we compare
Champaign, IL 61821 89%442$70,715$181,800$162 cheaper homes ($77K less)
Tulsa, OK 74105 89%326$69,547$337,100$210 pricier homes ($79K more)
Ocala, FL 34471 88%1,146$65,789$317,900$169 pricier homes ($59K more)
Cleveland, OH 44124 88%790$82,392$223,100$177 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Southfield, MI 48075 88%702$65,384$227,000$135 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Saint Paul, MN 55118 88%336$87,340$350,600$205 pricier homes ($92K more)
Springfield, IL 62704 88%373$69,976$172,600$112 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Overland Park, KS 66212 88%164$81,477$304,800$212 pricier homes ($46K more)
Topeka, KS 66614 88%131$71,377$194,100$130 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Amarillo, TX 79109 88%482$70,435$222,900$142 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Erie, PA 16506 87%858$81,060$237,300$201 Very close on everything we compare

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.