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 68507

Lincoln: median income $69,488, home value $230,400, $159/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Vandalia, OH 45377 93%657$77,398$202,800$164 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Sioux Falls, SD 57103 93%186$72,831$269,500$173 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
Dallastown, PA 17313 92%1,051$70,176$237,900$163 Very close on everything we compare
Toledo, OH 43623 91%676$71,171$169,300$146 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Janesville, WI 53545 91%412$73,889$220,700$168 larger
Oshkosh, WI 54902 91%467$65,612$170,800$180 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Amarillo, TX 79109 91%486$70,435$222,900$142 larger
Absecon, NJ 08201 90%1,170$71,321$287,000$226 pricier homes ($57K more) · smaller
Mc Kees Rocks, PA 15136 89%866$69,099$184,900$165 cheaper homes ($46K less) · older homes
Newport News, VA 23601 89%1,112$71,279$243,800$204 larger
Cayce, SC 29033 89%976$61,237$163,800$167 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Melbourne, FL 32935 89%1,261$64,588$263,200$194 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger
Lakeland, FL 33803 89%1,216$65,807$250,100$194 larger
Wickliffe, OH 44092 89%789$70,801$175,600$166 cheaper homes ($55K less) · older homes
Cincinnati, OH 45246 89%651$65,370$205,500$166 Very close on everything we compare
Cedar Rapids, IA 52405 89%267$70,123$185,500$137 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Superior, WI 54880 89%463$68,275$190,700$170 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger · older homes
Bridgeton, MO 63044 89%360$77,819$238,100$165 smaller
Erie, PA 16509 88%860$68,846$220,500$169 larger · less walkable
Chesapeake, VA 23325 88%1,129$69,909$272,000$235 pricier homes ($42K more)
Fairview Heights, IL 62208 88%385$80,205$176,000$134 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Shawnee, KS 66203 88%161$75,869$254,900$222 Very close on everything we compare
Topeka, KS 66614 88%135$71,377$194,100$130 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Wichita, KS 67212 88%222$68,145$200,300$126 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Middletown, PA 17057 87%1,044$73,407$201,600$168 cheaper homes ($29K less) · less walkable

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.