Housing decision brief
Dade County, GA Housing Market
Dade County screens as a higher purchase price, below-state rent, a manageable tax-rate signal market. Use the page as a decision brief, not just a price lookup, because local income, taxes, and data confidence change how affordable the county really is.
87th lowest home value out of 159 Georgia counties with data | 79th lowest rent out of 159
Median home value
$166,600
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$843/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$699/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
2.8x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
22.0%
Below 30% usually screens as less pressured.
Rent vs own
$144/mo
Median owner cost screens below median rent.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Lower rent
$843/mo is At the Georgia county median
Rent burden below pressure line
22.00% of renter income goes to rent, below the 30% burden threshold.
Owning screens cheaper than renting
Median owner costs are $144/mo below median rent before individual mortgage terms.
What to Check
Health context
Health score is 38.8 out of 100, so affordability should be weighed against local health indicators.
Crime data coverage
Crime data coverage is partial. Treat zero or low crime rates as incomplete until you check the source coverage.
Best Fit For
- Buyers comparing homes to local incomes
- Renters trying to keep rent below the burden threshold
- Households weighing ownership against renting
Poor Fit For
- Anyone treating reported crime rates as complete without source context
County vs State vs National
The county number only matters after you see the benchmark. These comparisons show where Dade County is genuinely cheap, where it is average, and where the hidden cost may be.
| Metric | County | State | U.S. | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Median home value Lower usually helps affordability. | $166,600 | $161,000 | $281,900 | Near state median3% above Georgia county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $843 | $847 | $1,163 | Near state medianAt the Georgia county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $699 | $786 | $1,672 | 11% favorable11% below Georgia county median |
Median household income | $58,936 | $55,714 | $74,755 | 6% favorable6% above Georgia county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 0.62% | 0.89% | 1.02% | 30% favorable30% below Georgia county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 22.00% | 28.00% | N/A | 21% favorable22.00% of renter income goes to rent. |
Income Fit
A low price only helps if local income can carry the monthly cost. This panel compares the county income base with rent and owner-cost thresholds.
Rent cushion
+$25,216
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$28,979
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
Housing in Dade County is affordable. The median rent is $843/month against a median household income of $58,936, putting rent at 17.2% of income.
Rent vs own
The median rent in Dade County is $843/month, while owner costs run $699/month. Owning saves approximately $144/month.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $33,720/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $29,957/year. With a median household income of $58,936, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 22.0% of renter households in Dade County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Dade County sits 6% less expensive than Charlton County ($895/month) in terms of median gross rent.
Better Counties to Compare
Similar counties are matched on home value, rent, income, and state context. This is more useful than a simple nearest-price list.
| County | Home Value | Rent | Why compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baldwin County, GA | $164,700 | $865/mo | Same-state comparison near $164,700 home value and $865/mo rent. |
| Heard County, GA | $161,000 | $855/mo | Same-state comparison near $161,000 home value and $855/mo rent. |
| Polk County, GA | $163,500 | $870/mo | Same-state comparison near $163,500 home value and $870/mo rent. |
| Walker County, GA | $173,900 | $867/mo | Same-state comparison near $173,900 home value and $867/mo rent. |
| Stephens County, GA | $168,200 | $817/mo | Same-state comparison near $168,200 home value and $817/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Dade County
Is Dade County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Dade County?
How much income do you need for housing in Dade County?
What should I double-check before moving to Dade County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.