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 68526

Lincoln: median income $113,910, home value $446,500, $190/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Johnston, IA 50131 88%163$106,551$369,400$228 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger
Albuquerque, NM 87113 84%666$95,922$385,200$248 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger
Clive, IA 50325 83%160$132,121$401,100$237 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · older homes
San Antonio, TX 78248 82%777$130,552$479,500$207 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · older homes
Lexington, KY 40513 81%668$128,013$497,600$201 pricier homes ($51K more) · older homes
Minneapolis, MN 55442 80%338$123,859$460,100$190 larger · older homes
San Antonio, TX 78231 80%779$109,183$401,800$193 cheaper homes ($45K less) · older homes
Overland Park, KS 66223 79%165$114,855$437,500$186 larger · more renters
Liberty Lake, WA 99019 79%1,118$120,053$617,800$267 pricier homes ($171K more) · larger · less walkable
Williston, VT 05495 77%1,218$107,054$470,300$288 less walkable · older homes
Apex, NC 27523 77%1,021$135,625$659,300$252 pricier homes ($213K more) · larger
Cornelius, NC 28031 77%927$113,368$547,400$295 pricier homes ($101K more) · larger
Louisville, KY 40241 77%610$94,078$373,900$172 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger · older homes
Grimes, IA 50111 77%160$120,769$308,800$228 cheaper homes ($138K less) · larger · younger residents
Charlottesville, VA 22911 76%985$128,235$454,100$230 larger · less walkable · older homes
Champaign, IL 61822 76%438$99,006$287,000$168 cheaper homes ($160K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Lees Summit, MO 64064 76%168$117,674$389,000$184 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · less walkable
Wichita, KS 67205 76%210$121,245$349,000$147 cheaper homes ($98K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Tulsa, OK 74137 76%327$102,798$404,300$158 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · older homes
Eugene, OR 97408 76%1,364$104,945$539,600$327 pricier homes ($93K more) · larger · older homes
Richland, WA 99352 76%1,195$100,108$474,100$263 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Cincinnati, OH 45249 75%656$105,804$495,000$214 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger · less walkable
Verona, WI 53593 75%394$135,023$483,700$266 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger · less walkable
Waunakee, WI 53597 75%404$117,000$493,200$243 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger · less walkable
Austin, TX 78736 75%728$93,805$573,100$293 pricier homes ($127K more) · less walkable · older homes

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.