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 68516

Lincoln: median income $100,821, home value $354,000, $170/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Champaign, IL 61822 94%442$99,006$287,000$168 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller
Johnston, IA 50131 91%166$106,551$369,400$228 smaller
Louisville, KY 40241 88%613$94,078$373,900$172 smaller · less walkable
Tulsa, OK 74137 88%329$102,798$404,300$158 pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller · less walkable
Lexington, KY 40509 87%679$94,804$366,300$191 less walkable
West Des Moines, IA 50265 87%162$85,915$281,800$213 cheaper homes ($72K less) · older homes
West Fargo, ND 58078 87%424$91,040$324,100$173 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Olathe, KS 66062 87%164$117,585$368,000$207 larger · less walkable
Richland, WA 99352 87%1,191$100,108$474,100$263 pricier homes ($120K more)
Louisville, KY 40223 86%615$96,607$362,500$179 smaller · older residents · older homes
Saint Paul, MN 55124 86%327$97,727$370,400$189 6 min longer commute
O Fallon, IL 62269 86%390$103,818$291,800$148 cheaper homes ($62K less) · 6 min longer commute · less walkable
Wichita, KS 67226 86%211$92,341$304,500$136 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller
Spokane, WA 99223 86%1,126$94,279$490,500$213 pricier homes ($137K more)
Fishers, IN 46038 85%562$106,886$333,200$170 5 min longer commute · less walkable
Lenexa, KS 66215 85%161$88,232$338,800$189 smaller · older homes
Hilliard, OH 43026 84%712$111,440$347,900$212 less walkable
Dayton, OH 45458 84%663$110,150$362,700$175 less walkable
Grandville, MI 49418 84%579$84,846$321,700$212 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller
Plano, TX 75075 84%534$98,365$428,000$219 pricier homes ($74K more) · 5 min longer commute · older homes
Albuquerque, NM 87113 84%664$95,922$385,200$248 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller
Durham, NC 27703 83%1,017$89,317$378,400$201 less walkable
Sun Prairie, WI 53590 83%417$97,051$379,500$224 pricier homes ($26K more) · less walkable
Shakopee, MN 55379 83%320$106,312$379,700$201 pricier homes ($26K more) · less walkable
Minneapolis, MN 55443 83%345$95,082$370,800$179 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.