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 68520

Lincoln: median income $94,244, home value $511,500, $227/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Daleville, VA 24083 81%921$109,207$391,500$187 cheaper homes ($120K less) · larger · younger residents
Sister Bay, WI 54234 75%566$74,583$456,300$339 cheaper homes ($55K less) · older homes
Topeka, KS 66615 72%126$107,656$290,700$146 cheaper homes ($221K less) · younger residents
Angel Fire, NM 87710 72%558$83,125$569,200$280 pricier homes ($58K more) · smaller · older residents
Nellysford, VA 22958 71%963$98,284$487,500$242 older residents · older homes
Lakeside, MT 59922 71%1,002$87,237$657,500$298 pricier homes ($146K more) · 6 min longer commute · older homes
Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657 71%714$91,452$483,200$281 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · 10 min longer commute
Cornville, AZ 86325 71%935$74,679$442,800$272 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Mc Gaheysville, VA 22840 70%962$95,667$382,500$257 cheaper homes ($129K less) · larger · younger residents
Winchester, OR 97495 70%1,377$77,986$451,300$255 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller · younger residents
Seneca, SC 29672 68%850$90,650$482,100$271 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Placida, FL 33946 68%1,262$85,848$660,800$247 pricier homes ($149K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Grand Junction, CO 81506 68%645$78,651$448,300$263 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger · older homes
Ivins, UT 84738 68%952$77,993$592,900$344 pricier homes ($81K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Blue Hill, ME 04614 67%1,438$80,377$399,500$276 cheaper homes ($112K less) · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Rio Grande, NJ 08242 67%1,153$93,250$318,300$221 cheaper homes ($193K less) · more walkable · older homes
Colfax, NC 27235 67%951$101,173$304,000$172 cheaper homes ($208K less) · larger · younger residents
Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469 67%1,101$90,684$463,200$244 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger · older residents
Manchester Center, VT 05255 66%1,215$91,058$445,500$270 cheaper homes ($66K less) · more walkable · older homes
Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 66%612$84,270$486,000$342 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Ouray, CO 81427 66%622$84,167$604,200$291 pricier homes ($93K more) · smaller · older homes
Selkirk, NY 12158 65%1,177$97,419$315,100$242 cheaper homes ($196K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Slingerlands, NY 12159 65%1,174$128,306$449,900$254 higher income ($34K more) · cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger
Mills River, NC 28759 65%846$107,609$444,300$274 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger · younger residents
Pawleys Island, SC 29585 65%1,083$81,946$463,400$273 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger · older residents

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.