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 68510

Lincoln: median income $65,951, home value $239,700, $156/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tulsa, OK 74135 95%328$62,694$248,600$166 Very close on everything we compare
Albuquerque, NM 87110 92%668$64,892$273,900$202 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Roanoke, VA 24015 91%926$69,831$267,500$154 pricier homes ($28K more)
Little Rock, AR 72205 91%480$68,415$229,600$167 Very close on everything we compare
Kansas City, MO 64131 90%168$64,201$234,200$175 Very close on everything we compare
Oklahoma City, OK 73112 90%369$58,419$196,400$156 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Tulsa, OK 74105 90%328$69,547$337,100$210 pricier homes ($97K more)
Pittsburgh, PA 15220 89%870$75,611$228,700$190 Very close on everything we compare
Newport, KY 41071 89%656$59,976$192,900$190 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Sioux Falls, SD 57105 89%188$77,292$276,100$174 pricier homes ($36K more)
Champaign, IL 61821 89%443$70,715$181,800$162 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Buffalo, NY 14217 88%925$73,800$207,500$195 cheaper homes ($32K less) · older homes
Springfield, IL 62704 88%374$69,976$172,600$112 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger
Oklahoma City, OK 73118 88%369$69,827$249,200$186 older homes
Syracuse, NY 13224 87%1,065$76,500$218,900$197 smaller
Jacksonville, FL 32207 87%1,111$65,234$307,200$226 pricier homes ($68K more) · larger
Milwaukee, WI 53222 87%470$76,980$216,600$201 younger residents
Superior, WI 54880 87%466$68,275$190,700$170 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
West Columbia, SC 29169 86%973$57,122$209,200$160 cheaper homes ($31K less) · newer homes
Toledo, OH 43614 86%679$58,961$168,400$141 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Cincinnati, OH 45215 86%654$69,372$226,400$180 larger · less walkable
Cincinnati, OH 45246 86%652$65,370$205,500$166 cheaper homes ($34K less) · less walkable
Peoria, IL 61614 86%369$66,924$172,100$118 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Mc Kees Rocks, PA 15136 85%868$69,099$184,900$165 cheaper homes ($55K less) · 5 min longer commute
Pittsburgh, PA 15205 85%867$70,991$179,900$175 cheaper homes ($60K less) · 5 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.