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 68522

Lincoln: median income $77,597, home value $235,100, $176/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tulsa, OK 74134 91%327$73,119$230,700$151 larger
Portland, TX 78374 89%892$83,504$233,800$164 Very close on everything we compare
Lafayette, IN 47909 88%518$68,035$222,800$180 larger
Somerton, AZ 85350 87%1,143$74,025$237,300$205 Very close on everything we compare
Tifton, GA 31793 86%975$83,693$206,900$172 cheaper homes ($28K less) · less walkable
Farmington, NM 87402 86%673$79,461$284,200$201 pricier homes ($49K more) · older residents
Memphis, TN 38133 85%540$81,659$270,900$166 pricier homes ($36K more) · 7 min longer commute
Louisville, KY 40228 85%620$79,404$241,300$157 older residents
Sauk Rapids, MN 56379 85%357$76,138$272,400$161 pricier homes ($37K more) · less walkable
El Paso, TX 79934 85%813$77,754$210,800$162 larger · 6 min longer commute
Lexington, KY 40511 84%679$79,540$252,400$180 larger
Altoona, IA 50009 84%180$88,447$278,300$237 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger
Des Moines, IA 50320 84%173$85,105$216,900$205 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Stewartville, MN 55976 84%303$87,330$280,200$172 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller · older residents
Lees Summit, MO 64063 84%182$80,459$263,000$174 pricier homes ($28K more) · older homes
Wolfforth, TX 79382 84%581$84,457$257,100$159 less walkable
Pueblo, CO 81008 84%453$69,925$310,300$176 pricier homes ($75K more) · older residents · less walkable
Artesia, NM 88210 84%693$79,632$223,800$165 less walkable
Absecon, NJ 08201 83%1,177$71,321$287,000$226 pricier homes ($52K more) · older homes
Ocala, FL 34480 83%1,155$77,557$282,700$184 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger · less walkable
Galloway, OH 43119 83%716$91,224$253,600$196 larger
Webb City, MO 64870 83%280$68,300$177,700$152 cheaper homes ($57K less) · less walkable
Jonesboro, AR 72405 83%474$92,440$259,900$152 Very close on everything we compare
Siloam Springs, AR 72761 83%341$76,122$236,600$177 larger · 5 min longer commute · less walkable
Lubbock, TX 79423 83%577$84,933$234,400$149 larger

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.