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 Lexington, NE 68850

Lexington: median income $69,238, home value $161,400, $116/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dumas, TX 79029 95%359$64,652$161,900$140 Very close on everything we compare
Liberal, KS 67901 94%266$64,783$133,200— cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Guymon, OK 73942 94%297$61,522$184,500$142 Very close on everything we compare
Carrollton, KY 41008 91%787$59,844$147,400$123 smaller
Monett, MO 65708 90%412$57,827$179,700$148 Very close on everything we compare
Midland, TX 79703 90%623$77,285$224,000— pricier homes ($63K more) · larger
Denison, IA 51442 89%243$66,767$159,400$95 more homeowners
Temple, TX 76501 89%683$62,532$172,500$138 Very close on everything we compare
Beaumont, TX 77707 89%804$69,756$174,000$123 Very close on everything we compare
Lima, OH 45805 88%816$68,842$160,600$141 larger · older residents
Storm Lake, IA 50588 88%268$70,906$184,900$122 6 min shorter commute
Worthington, MN 56187 88%289$64,326$219,000$158 pricier homes ($58K more)
Marshall, MO 65340 88%362$58,118$156,100$129 Very close on everything we compare
Kingsville, TX 78363 88%930$60,574$163,300$126 larger
Hereford, TX 79045 88%436$60,543$116,500$123 cheaper homes ($45K less)
American Falls, ID 83211 88%692$65,483$209,200$168 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller
Carthage, NY 13619 87%1,248$63,120$178,700$131 older residents · 6 min longer commute
Washington, IN 47501 87%684$62,982$172,800$129 older residents
Vincennes, IN 47591 87%666$61,803$157,400$106 larger · older residents
Osceola, IA 50213 87%313$73,026$165,500$115 smaller · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Waterloo, IA 50702 87%400$62,021$150,500$123 larger · older homes
Hardin, MT 59034 87%523$60,726$169,800$140 smaller · older residents
Atchison, KS 66002 87%258$61,364$149,100$125 Very close on everything we compare
Longview, TX 75604 87%633$67,942$200,600$143 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
Wichita Falls, TX 76302 87%483$59,590$165,800$133 Very close on everything we compare

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.