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 Beach, FL 32407

Panama City Beach: median income $80,831, home value $404,200, $235/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kansas City, MO 64154 87%801$86,213$355,700$205 cheaper homes ($49K less) · more single-family homes
Grand Rapids, MI 49512 84%876$71,329$314,900$190 cheaper homes ($89K less) · more renters
Arden, NC 28704 83%410$81,096$390,000$273 more single-family homes
Madison, WI 53718 83%911$102,843$363,600$227 cheaper homes ($41K less) · more single-family homes
Saint Paul, MN 55121 83%1,088$87,152$301,400$195 cheaper homes ($103K less) · smaller · more renters
Missoula, MT 59808 83%1,898$80,239$460,900$337 pricier homes ($57K more) · more single-family homes
Novi, MI 48377 82%860$83,104$350,600$199 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Horsham, PA 19044 80%914$88,173$402,400$297 older homes
Newark, DE 19702 80%867$92,446$346,100$209 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Charlotte, NC 28273 79%443$87,350$340,600$197 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 79%277$79,309$486,800$210 pricier homes ($83K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
West Des Moines, IA 50266 79%903$87,025$345,600$221 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
Davenport, IA 52807 79%828$72,579$348,200$180 cheaper homes ($56K less) · older homes
Las Vegas, NV 89118 79%1,742$71,160$424,900$239 Very close on everything we compare
Fairview, OR 97024 79%2,235$69,679$414,100$284 Very close on everything we compare
Chesapeake, VA 23320 78%712$84,305$346,400$219 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Denver, CO 80234 78%1,272$92,563$530,300$237 pricier homes ($126K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Sandy, UT 84070 78%1,626$78,991$461,900$273 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger · younger residents
Anchorage, AK 99518 78%3,556$93,995$323,400$242 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller · younger residents
Wilmington, NC 28412 77%537$71,636$371,900$240 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Greenville, SC 29607 77%378$74,503$359,500$194 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Knoxville, TN 37909 77%410$66,984$312,500$223 cheaper homes ($92K less) · more single-family homes · older homes
Des Moines, IA 50321 77%898$80,351$320,500$212 cheaper homes ($84K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Coralville, IA 52241 77%857$69,243$298,900$173 cheaper homes ($105K less)
Sioux Falls, SD 57108 77%1,095$98,197$413,600$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.