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.

Reset

Towns most like Engelhard, NC 27824

Engelhard: median income $42,589, home value $79,900, $86/sq ft, 47-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kennard, TX 75847 87%1,138$42,188$121,700$88 pricier homes ($42K more)
Fort Blackmore, VA 24250 85%377$43,465$78,900— more homeowners
Milan, GA 31060 83%472$49,643$80,700— larger · more homeowners
Grand Junction, TN 38039 83%742$39,020$111,900$106 pricier homes ($32K more) · 6 min longer commute
Harts, WV 25524 82%378$40,194$89,700$74 larger · 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Danese, WV 25831 80%320$46,800$109,500$143 pricier homes ($30K more)
Lane, SC 29564 80%259$40,000$78,000— more apartments and townhomes
Garrison, KY 41141 79%449$36,508$87,500— larger · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Walton, WV 25286 78%365$45,250$106,500— pricier homes ($27K more) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Varney, WV 25696 78%369$48,077$109,400— pricier homes ($30K more) · younger residents · 8 min shorter commute
Talbotton, GA 31827 78%525$34,946$75,500$86 older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Pickens, MS 39146 78%816$31,436$61,500— larger
Sandy Hook, MS 39478 78%853$47,686$102,300$83 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Milltown, IN 47145 78%600$48,434$123,000$132 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger
Mitchell, GA 30820 77%411$51,146$82,800— 11 min shorter commute
Crenshaw, MS 38621 77%803$36,685$91,600$85 younger residents · 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Beattyville, KY 41311 77%450$39,158$84,300$71 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Tunnelton, WV 26444 75%335$44,004$119,800$112 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Hurtsboro, AL 36860 75%582$43,451$63,400$134 older residents
Brumley, MO 65017 75%926$39,457$165,000$78 pricier homes ($85K more)
Bradford, AR 72020 75%871$49,231$95,300— larger · 9 min shorter commute
Haworth, OK 74740 75%1,063$41,141$99,700— larger · 11 min shorter commute
Fairfax, SC 29827 74%347$40,844$66,600$74 larger · 9 min shorter commute · more renters
Reynolds, GA 31076 74%505$44,706$113,800$78 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Sarepta, LA 71071 74%1,009$36,900$100,600$85 larger · 10 min shorter commute · 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.