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 32413

Panama City Beach: median income $80,039, home value $441,300, $334/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Gulf Shores, AL 36542 92%110$79,639$383,500$317 cheaper homes ($58K less) · less walkable
Seabrook, NH 03874 85%1,201$82,995$446,100$351 smaller · less walkable · older homes
North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582 83%489$71,723$413,800$273 cheaper homes ($28K less) · older residents
Prescott, AZ 86301 83%1,569$72,652$515,400$313 pricier homes ($74K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Myrtle Beach, SC 29575 82%467$71,447$305,700$235 cheaper homes ($136K less)
Grand Junction, CO 81506 82%1,417$78,651$448,300$263 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Mesa, AZ 85209 81%1,521$84,432$402,900$253 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · younger residents
Palm Desert, CA 92260 81%1,794$70,091$489,500$368 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger · older residents
Phoenix, OR 97535 81%2,195$66,052$418,400$264 smaller · more single-family homes
Lake Ozark, MO 65049 80%667$86,453$362,800$239 cheaper homes ($79K less) · smaller
Palm Springs, CA 92262 79%1,803$71,672$619,600$397 pricier homes ($178K more) · larger · older homes
Old Orchard Beach, ME 04064 78%1,248$59,887$361,700$370 cheaper homes ($80K less) · smaller · older homes
Myrtle Beach, SC 29572 78%479$85,247$427,400$281 older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Mesa, AZ 85205 78%1,525$73,283$339,900$256 cheaper homes ($101K less) · larger · older homes
Mesa, AZ 85215 78%1,526$98,831$441,000$278 more single-family homes
Salisbury, MA 01952 77%1,200$93,361$478,700$408 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Carolina Beach, NC 28428 77%535$93,241$572,700$417 pricier homes ($131K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Hardeeville, SC 29927 77%316$72,821$428,700$267 7 min longer commute · less walkable
Orange Beach, AL 36561 77%100$98,295$574,500$490 pricier homes ($133K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Traverse City, MI 49684 77%994$80,788$420,200$332 more single-family homes · older homes
Mesa, AZ 85206 77%1,526$75,607$357,900$239 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger · younger residents
Boulder City, NV 89005 77%1,712$74,375$435,600$289 more single-family homes · older homes
Brookings, OR 97415 77%2,266$69,152$394,800$316 cheaper homes ($47K less) · older homes
Chelan, WA 98816 77%2,168$82,577$499,200$421 pricier homes ($58K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Osage Beach, MO 65065 76%664$60,785$371,600$263 cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller · older residents

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.