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 68512

Lincoln: median income $104,448, home value $322,400, $167/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Johnston, IA 50131 92%168$106,551$369,400$228 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger
Champaign, IL 61822 92%444$99,006$287,000$168 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Wichita, KS 67226 91%211$92,341$304,500$136 larger
Albuquerque, NM 87113 88%663$95,922$385,200$248 pricier homes ($63K more)
Louisville, KY 40241 87%615$94,078$373,900$172 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger
Madison, WI 53718 87%414$102,843$363,600$227 pricier homes ($41K more)
Savoy, IL 61874 87%446$91,667$316,300$172 smaller
O Fallon, IL 62269 86%392$103,818$291,800$148 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Kansas City, MO 64151 86%152$92,876$323,000$166 larger · older homes
Tulsa, OK 74137 86%329$102,798$404,300$158 pricier homes ($82K more) · larger
Kansas City, MO 64158 85%158$105,043$371,800$182 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller
Lenexa, KS 66215 85%162$88,232$338,800$189 larger · older homes
Louisville, KY 40223 84%618$96,607$362,500$179 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · older homes
Sioux Falls, SD 57110 84%193$88,955$396,100$206 pricier homes ($74K more) · larger
West Fargo, ND 58078 84%424$91,040$324,100$173 larger · younger residents
Lexington, KY 40509 83%681$94,804$366,300$191 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger
Grandville, MI 49418 83%581$84,846$321,700$212 larger
Ankeny, IA 50021 83%176$99,572$317,200$229 larger · less walkable
Grimes, IA 50111 83%165$120,769$308,800$228 less walkable
Saint Paul, MN 55122 83%329$96,823$356,600$200 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · older homes
Tulsa, OK 74132 83%326$79,543$286,500$178 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Richland, WA 99352 83%1,189$100,108$474,100$263 pricier homes ($152K more) · larger
West Des Moines, IA 50265 82%164$85,915$281,800$213 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · older homes
Sun Prairie, WI 53590 82%419$97,051$379,500$224 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger · less walkable
Onalaska, WI 54650 82%353$85,548$291,600$189 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · older 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.