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 Engadine, MI 49827

Engadine: median income $46,827, home value $151,600, $178/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Waubay, SD 57273 95%566$48,167$177,400$164 pricier homes ($26K more)
Lockwood, MO 65682 93%745$53,590$164,300$143 larger
North Stratford, NH 03590 91%687$52,803$166,500$170 Very close on everything we compare
Perry, MO 63462 91%560$51,205$156,700$170 5 min longer commute
Timbo, AR 72680 91%793$43,668$144,100$138 Very close on everything we compare
Brockport, PA 15823 90%483$51,125$146,100— older residents
Bethesda, OH 43719 90%484$49,091$168,600$195 larger
Ridgeway, MO 64481 90%580$55,341$120,200— cheaper homes ($31K less)
Summersville, MO 65571 90%699$60,040$140,600$167 larger
Princeton, ME 04668 89%869$48,720$117,700— cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · younger residents
Fredonia, PA 16124 89%429$55,455$171,500— Very close on everything we compare
Gurdon, AR 71743 89%937$48,253$132,200$151 larger
Archer City, TX 76351 89%1,111$46,484$138,900$121 Very close on everything we compare
Arco, ID 83213 89%1,361$43,472$163,800$147 more apartments and townhomes
Covington, PA 16917 88%523$62,321$156,600$187 Very close on everything we compare
Bethel, NC 27812 88%837$53,268$112,500$139 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Walker, MO 64790 88%724$48,750$164,100$158 more apartments and townhomes
Goodrich, TX 77335 88%1,189$53,300$171,600$154 larger · 5 min longer commute
Antonito, CO 81120 88%1,224$47,546$188,200$182 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger · older residents
New Ellenton, SC 29809 87%908$55,234$154,800$156 larger · younger residents
Bradford, TN 38316 87%720$50,700$140,200$192 larger
Stewardson, IL 62463 87%503$58,214$138,500— more homeowners
Greenfield, MO 65661 87%740$46,170$151,200$113 larger
Western Grove, AR 72685 87%797$48,750$203,900$153 pricier homes ($52K more) · 5 min longer commute
Fairland, OK 74343 87%809$47,829$163,400$195 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.