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 Pasadena, TX 77506

Pasadena: median income $49,586, home value $146,800, $157/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Forest Park, GA 30297 92%691$45,124$152,900$124 Very close on everything we compare
Columbus, OH 43223 89%986$46,911$131,100$144 Very close on everything we compare
Asheboro, NC 27203 87%986$46,336$156,300$145 smaller
Fort Wayne, IN 46816 87%966$45,343$157,700$153 smaller · more homeowners
Spartanburg, SC 29303 86%856$48,295$159,500$137 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Milwaukee, WI 53218 85%1,009$45,642$133,400$139 more walkable
Morrow, GA 30260 84%693$52,666$205,700$136 pricier homes ($59K more) · newer homes
Columbus, OH 43232 82%992$51,417$172,300$159 pricier homes ($26K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Indianapolis, IN 46226 82%869$50,325$158,600$117 Very close on everything we compare
Pontiac, MI 48340 82%1,113$47,891$119,900$116 cheaper homes ($27K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Oklahoma City, OK 73110 82%418$51,228$126,100$130 5 min shorter commute
Memphis, TN 38128 81%489$47,645$138,000$91 Very close on everything we compare
North Chicago, IL 60064 81%963$49,195$152,200$156 smaller · more walkable
Oklahoma City, OK 73127 81%424$44,925$156,700$145 6 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Indianapolis, IN 46227 79%860$53,629$210,000$127 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger
Hazelwood, MO 63042 79%685$49,453$149,400$128 smaller · older residents
Saint Louis, MO 63138 79%690$56,096$139,100$103 smaller
Waterbury, CT 06704 78%1,484$48,718$192,000$205 pricier homes ($45K more) · more walkable
Riverdale, GA 30274 78%688$52,209$174,300$133 pricier homes ($28K more) · newer homes
Orlando, FL 32808 78%833$49,700$239,200$198 pricier homes ($92K more) · larger · newer homes
Lakeland, FL 33801 78%810$53,061$166,800$190 more walkable
Phoenix, AZ 85009 78%1,028$52,054$236,100$230 pricier homes ($89K more) · more walkable
Wilson, NC 27893 77%1,085$42,810$158,600$155 older residents · 8 min shorter commute · newer homes
Columbia, SC 29203 77%883$46,054$141,300$148 6 min shorter commute
Spartanburg, SC 29306 77%853$41,356$177,500$152 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller

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.