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 Panama City, FL 32401

Panama City: median income $52,523, home value $230,500, $197/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lexington, KY 40505 92%550$58,206$179,200$170 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Rochester, NY 14606 91%1,000$55,807$158,400$160 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Portsmouth, VA 23707 90%707$48,926$230,800$178 younger residents
Roseburg, OR 97470 90%2,246$54,751$260,400$224 pricier homes ($30K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Aberdeen, WA 98520 90%2,334$58,153$250,800$169 Very close on everything we compare
Hampton, VA 23663 89%716$54,336$202,300$191 cheaper homes ($28K less) · younger residents
Roanoke, VA 24012 89%593$52,973$184,400$143 cheaper homes ($46K less)
San Antonio, TX 78202 89%769$47,478$234,700$173 smaller
Klamath Falls, OR 97601 89%2,163$51,780$295,300$216 pricier homes ($65K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Dayton, OH 45414 88%673$54,485$182,300$145 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Clarksville, IN 47129 88%563$56,185$170,600$139 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Cudahy, WI 53110 88%892$66,719$216,500$203 Very close on everything we compare
Chicopee, MA 01020 87%1,102$66,009$280,900$244 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
Westville, NJ 08093 87%895$64,104$213,200$232 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Louisville, KY 40213 87%554$55,897$173,600$169 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Cleveland, OH 44144 87%809$60,223$149,900$161 cheaper homes ($81K less)
Bedford, OH 44146 87%809$54,925$155,000$146 cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger
La Crosse, WI 54603 87%994$52,012$181,900$173 cheaper homes ($49K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Tucson, AZ 85714 87%1,500$55,000$203,600$194 cheaper homes ($27K less) · younger residents
Cincinnati, OH 45246 86%634$65,370$205,500$166 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Oshkosh, WI 54902 86%969$65,612$170,800$180 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Kansas City, MO 64117 86%800$59,601$186,900$164 cheaper homes ($44K less) · younger residents
Kenner, LA 70062 86%275$51,477$200,300$151 cheaper homes ($30K less) · younger residents
Houston, TX 77022 86%582$52,739$219,200$183 younger residents
Corpus Christi, TX 78411 86%729$57,742$184,700$143 cheaper homes ($46K less)

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.