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 32409

Panama City: median income $64,516, home value $275,700, $185/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Iron Station, NC 28080 94%444$71,997$268,500$200 Very close on everything we compare
Pearl River, LA 70452 93%243$62,917$233,400$159 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Snow Camp, NC 27349 92%530$68,807$229,700$167 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller
Hazel Green, AL 35750 92%325$68,389$218,800$166 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Stokesdale, NC 27357 91%527$75,287$295,000$193 Very close on everything we compare
Aynor, SC 29511 91%458$69,507$252,900$200 smaller
Emory, TX 75440 91%617$65,232$286,800$181 Very close on everything we compare
Creedmoor, NC 27522 90%570$77,094$270,700$184 more renters
Lugoff, SC 29078 90%397$67,727$207,700$162 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Campobello, SC 29322 90%390$69,656$242,400$195 cheaper homes ($33K less) · more renters
Salem, AL 36874 90%162$66,986$194,900$194 cheaper homes ($81K less) · older residents
Felton, DE 19943 89%831$73,925$312,300$200 pricier homes ($37K more) · more single-family homes
Eatonton, GA 31024 89%248$65,971$237,000$223 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · more renters
Elberta, AL 36530 89%113$63,393$280,100$208 older residents
Florence, MS 39073 89%291$66,829$206,500$157 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger
Calhoun, LA 71225 89%420$74,873$210,000$170 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller
Mounds, OK 74047 89%714$72,292$210,300$161 cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller
Devine, TX 78016 89%797$60,736$221,500$173 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Marion, TX 78124 89%747$74,192$282,700$146 smaller
Hereford, AZ 85615 89%1,453$73,758$250,200$215 cheaper homes ($26K less) · older residents
Delmar, DE 19940 88%806$65,024$235,300$152 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Frederica, DE 19946 88%837$80,459$302,800$201 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller
Jackson Springs, NC 27281 88%487$74,547$292,400$193 smaller
Franklinton, NC 27525 88%579$73,036$284,300$180 larger · younger residents
Timberlake, NC 27583 88%568$71,484$279,900$214 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.