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 68523

Lincoln: median income $141,786, home value $508,600, $193/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Monclova, OH 43542 88%677$148,657$402,000$217 cheaper homes ($107K less) · larger
Oklahoma City, OK 73151 88%359$147,250$667,000$235 pricier homes ($158K more) · less walkable
Mickleton, NJ 08056 87%1,133$171,389$473,400$223 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Robins, IA 52328 86%279$125,347$382,900$166 cheaper homes ($126K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Hartsburg, MO 65039 86%276$125,714$412,400$176 cheaper homes ($96K less) · larger · older homes
Oak Ridge, NC 27310 85%959$165,898$498,900$217 larger
Bucyrus, KS 66013 84%177$164,320$724,500$234 pricier homes ($216K more)
Fisherville, KY 40023 83%630$144,635$497,800$184 larger · 6 min longer commute
Colgate, WI 53017 83%469$153,917$521,700$221 larger · younger residents · older homes
Manchaca, TX 78652 83%736$133,368$528,100$204 larger · 8 min longer commute
Oronoco, MN 55960 82%321$130,227$481,200$214 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · less walkable
Clancy, MT 59634 82%856$129,891$553,900$264 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger
Mendon, UT 84325 82%793$116,094$609,300$219 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($101K more) · less walkable
Penn Laird, VA 22846 81%970$115,491$450,000$209 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($59K less) · older homes
Cedar Rapids, IA 52411 81%276$170,491$423,200$156 higher income ($29K more) · cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger
Hanover, MN 55341 81%343$157,071$450,300$195 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · younger residents
Shawnee, KS 66218 81%160$168,878$436,600$207 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger
North Prairie, WI 53153 80%456$152,543$430,100$271 cheaper homes ($79K less) · older homes
Wichita, KS 67228 80%206$162,857$418,000$150 cheaper homes ($91K less) · younger residents
Maidens, VA 23102 79%1,032$126,635$510,200$272 larger · 6 min longer commute
Bishop, GA 30621 79%872$117,917$463,600$208 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · less walkable
Swisher, IA 52338 79%274$119,605$392,700$170 cheaper homes ($116K less) · larger · less walkable
Loretto, MN 55357 79%340$152,500$530,200$245 larger · 9 min longer commute · older homes
Wichita, KS 67230 79%212$149,536$405,800$149 cheaper homes ($103K less) · larger
Mead, CO 80542 79%434$133,500$614,600$192 pricier homes ($106K more) · larger · 8 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.