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 32405

Panama City: median income $73,373, home value $279,900, $196/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Corpus Christi, TX 78413 96%729$72,815$244,200$153 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Hampton, VA 23666 95%712$72,568$253,000$194 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Fort Wayne, IN 46825 95%757$70,544$220,600$157 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Grand Rapids, MI 49508 95%877$70,120$281,600$187 Very close on everything we compare
Dover, DE 19901 94%846$66,388$273,000$183 Very close on everything we compare
Harrisonburg, VA 22802 94%693$66,423$280,700$196 Very close on everything we compare
Savannah, GA 31406 94%298$67,120$283,300$217 Very close on everything we compare
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068 94%693$70,477$241,800$181 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Lees Summit, MO 64063 94%778$80,459$263,000$174 Very close on everything we compare
Kansas City, MO 64118 94%802$74,740$225,300$177 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Dover, DE 19904 93%842$66,908$309,400$182 pricier homes ($30K more)
Chesapeake, VA 23325 93%710$69,909$272,000$235 smaller · older homes
Durham, NC 27704 93%563$69,668$311,500$205 pricier homes ($32K more)
Lafayette, IN 47905 93%708$65,861$235,600$176 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55433 93%1,114$78,054$296,900$191 Very close on everything we compare
Tucson, AZ 85741 93%1,502$76,271$299,500$219 6 min longer commute
Newark, DE 19713 92%863$76,493$292,600$215 older homes
Columbus, OH 43231 92%700$73,986$237,000$197 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Wyoming, MI 49519 92%878$73,762$238,700$189 cheaper homes ($41K less) · older homes
Sioux Falls, SD 57103 92%1,103$72,831$269,500$173 Very close on everything we compare
Tulsa, OK 74134 92%715$73,119$230,700$151 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Hampton, VA 23669 91%715$71,222$260,400$187 older homes
Savannah, GA 31419 91%290$69,635$257,300$178 larger
Middletown, OH 45044 91%648$73,732$241,600$172 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Bloomington, IN 47403 91%619$70,582$239,700$185 cheaper homes ($40K 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.