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 Lockney, TX 79241

Lockney: median income $61,803, home value $85,700, $75/sq ft, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Belleville, KS 66935 95%445$56,014$87,100$67 Very close on everything we compare
Pocahontas, IA 50574 93%696$60,469$110,300$83 Very close on everything we compare
Osborne, KS 67473 93%394$64,531$88,000— Very close on everything we compare
Phillipsburg, KS 67661 93%405$60,925$98,400$72 Very close on everything we compare
Humboldt, KS 66748 92%420$59,871$114,300$55 pricier homes ($29K more)
Smith Center, KS 66967 92%417$56,726$100,400— Very close on everything we compare
Superior, NE 68978 91%446$65,764$83,700$72 older homes
Wheaton, MN 56296 90%847$53,527$103,800$73 Very close on everything we compare
Fredonia, KS 66736 90%396$62,443$93,200$58 larger
Ellinwood, KS 67526 90%331$57,824$123,400$77 pricier homes ($38K more)
Stockton, KS 67669 90%384$62,633$115,900$64 pricier homes ($30K more)
Sharon Springs, KS 67758 90%328$58,500$109,700$78 smaller
Pawnee City, NE 68420 89%504$56,250$68,000$95 smaller
Mangum, OK 73554 88%124$56,400$105,900$75 larger · younger residents
Gilmore City, IA 50541 87%702$56,364$95,500$64 smaller · younger residents
Bedford, IA 50833 87%581$61,042$112,900$69 pricier homes ($27K more) · 6 min longer commute
Mott, ND 58646 87%846$56,667$92,800$58 smaller
Watonga, OK 73772 87%207$58,591$116,900$72 pricier homes ($31K more)
Bessemer, MI 49911 86%1,039$57,000$106,300$87 Very close on everything we compare
Corydon, IA 50060 86%638$63,438$117,300$106 pricier homes ($32K more)
Laurens, IA 50554 86%698$63,802$82,800$68 8 min longer commute
Lenox, IA 50851 86%598$70,926$121,000— pricier homes ($35K more)
Lake City, IA 51449 86%668$75,329$115,800— pricier homes ($30K more)
Napoleon, ND 58561 86%857$61,688$100,300— smaller
Oblong, IL 62449 86%821$59,555$98,800— more apartments and townhomes · newer 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.