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 68524

Lincoln: median income $81,045, home value $234,600, $168/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Little Chute, WI 54140 92%492$82,472$227,000$168 older residents
Midland, TX 79703 89%681$77,285$224,000— larger
Ephrata, WA 98823 88%1,208$73,074$267,300$223 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger
Liberty, NY 12754 86%1,143$67,624$223,500$135 Very close on everything we compare
Portland, TX 78374 86%896$83,504$233,800$164 larger
South Glens Falls, NY 12803 85%1,196$82,057$231,300$229 larger · older residents
Wyoming, MI 49519 85%587$73,762$238,700$189 larger
White Oak, TX 75693 85%584$102,146$222,400$164 less walkable
Clute, TX 77531 85%820$73,240$260,800$149 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Gordonville, PA 17529 84%1,087$80,050$362,100$232 pricier homes ($128K more) · less walkable
Minot, ND 58703 84%562$82,728$263,200$143 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Artesia, NM 88210 84%695$79,632$223,800$165 larger
Brockport, NY 14420 83%979$75,577$191,900$165 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Mansfield, PA 16933 83%1,023$65,096$210,300$146 older residents
Groveport, OH 43125 83%735$84,043$246,500$187 larger · older residents
East Grand Forks, MN 56721 83%489$82,525$259,300$235 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Sidney, MT 59270 83%597$72,630$267,600$133 pricier homes ($33K more) · older residents
Duncanville, TX 75116 83%566$67,390$237,500$172 larger · 5 min longer commute
Arlington, TX 76015 83%564$73,709$256,900$193 larger
Granger, WA 98932 83%1,225$71,806$250,000$197 younger residents · less walkable
Dallastown, PA 17313 82%1,060$70,176$237,900$163 larger · older residents
Kutztown, PA 19530 82%1,099$71,554$292,500$184 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger · younger residents
Columbus, OH 43231 82%730$73,986$237,000$197 larger
Sauk Rapids, MN 56379 82%354$76,138$272,400$161 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger · older residents
Richfield, UT 84701 82%823$73,943$336,800$146 pricier homes ($102K more) · 7 min shorter 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.