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 68528

Lincoln: median income $75,740, home value $253,800, $166/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tulsa, OK 74132 91%331$79,543$286,500$178 pricier homes ($33K more) · older residents
Wichita, KS 67220 85%213$64,338$214,800$118 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Oklahoma City, OK 73128 84%374$74,241$194,100$149 cheaper homes ($60K less) · less walkable
Kansas City, MO 64153 82%153$82,964$353,200$186 pricier homes ($99K more) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Wilmore, KY 40390 81%677$73,767$245,900$186 less walkable
Altoona, WI 54720 81%385$85,977$236,700$177 older residents
Plymouth, NH 03264 80%1,292$76,892$288,800$226 pricier homes ($35K more) · older homes
Scottdale, GA 30079 80%840$82,500$347,700$232 pricier homes ($94K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Bloomington, IN 47404 80%550$61,389$257,500$191 larger · older residents · older homes
Allendale, MI 49401 80%576$74,880$321,500$217 pricier homes ($68K more) · larger · younger residents
Kansas City, MO 64154 80%156$86,213$355,700$205 pricier homes ($102K more) · larger · older residents
Maize, KS 67101 80%214$73,438$273,000$180 older residents
Maumelle, AR 72113 80%476$79,248$291,700$158 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger · older residents
Geneseo, NY 14454 79%984$77,857$243,200$165 larger · younger residents · older homes
Little Rock, AR 72211 79%482$83,134$284,100$157 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · older residents
Fort Pierce, FL 34981 78%1,314$71,136$373,000$189 pricier homes ($119K more)
Lexington, KY 40511 78%680$79,540$252,400$180 larger · older residents
Lawrence, KS 66046 78%153$65,478$233,700$199 larger · older homes
Wichita, KS 67226 78%215$92,341$304,500$136 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger · older residents
Oklahoma City, OK 73142 78%364$81,818$364,300$178 pricier homes ($111K more) · larger · older residents
Pineville, NC 28134 77%950$85,681$383,800$230 pricier homes ($130K more) · larger · older residents
Bloomington, IN 47403 77%551$70,582$239,700$185 larger · older residents
Hiawatha, IA 52233 77%276$65,575$204,200$157 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Menomonie, WI 54751 77%372$72,028$253,000$168 larger · less walkable · older homes
Sartell, MN 56377 77%356$87,172$302,400$167 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger · older residents

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.