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 68527

Lincoln: median income $145,357, home value $510,300, $190/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fisherville, KY 40023 85%620$144,635$497,800$184 larger
San Antonio, TX 78266 85%778$146,792$586,600$203 pricier homes ($76K more) · larger
Loretto, MN 55357 84%329$152,500$530,200$245 older homes
Sunnyvale, TX 75182 84%555$170,348$565,300$208 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger
Manchaca, TX 78652 83%744$133,368$528,100$204 larger
Mead, CO 80542 83%446$133,500$614,600$192 pricier homes ($104K more) · larger · younger residents
Mickleton, NJ 08056 82%1,121$171,389$473,400$223 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Rolesville, NC 27571 82%1,034$131,139$495,100$184 larger
Cumming, IA 50061 81%152$130,714$533,800$197 less walkable
Hanover, MN 55341 81%332$157,071$450,300$195 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger · younger residents
Defiance, MO 63341 81%338$170,598$606,800$224 higher income ($25K more) · pricier homes ($97K more) · larger
Oklahoma City, OK 73151 81%367$147,250$667,000$235 pricier homes ($157K more) · 8 min shorter commute · less walkable
Maidens, VA 23102 79%1,022$126,635$510,200$272 larger · less walkable
Carver, MN 55315 79%305$140,893$453,000$208 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger · younger residents
Wayne, IL 60184 79%436$163,750$642,700$239 pricier homes ($132K more) · older homes
Lake Worth, FL 33449 78%1,354$153,586$696,100$278 pricier homes ($186K more) · larger
Monclova, OH 43542 78%665$148,657$402,000$217 cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Phoenix, AZ 85045 78%1,002$153,583$634,600$280 pricier homes ($124K more) · larger · older homes
Brookline, NH 03033 77%1,284$171,046$544,400$245 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Tyrone, GA 30290 77%830$121,380$463,000$213 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger · more renters
Yalaha, FL 34797 77%1,178$130,227$400,000$204 cheaper homes ($110K less) · smaller · older residents
Houlton, WI 54082 76%349$131,146$476,200$264 cheaper homes ($34K less) · more renters · older homes
East Kingston, NH 03827 75%1,317$142,794$600,500$273 pricier homes ($90K more) · older homes
Glenn Dale, MD 20769 75%1,052$139,773$580,500$214 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger · older homes
Dayton, MN 55327 75%339$140,366$492,400$214 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.