Housing decision brief
Gilmer County, GA Housing Market
Gilmer County screens as a higher purchase price, rent that needs comparison, 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.
139th lowest home value out of 159 Georgia counties with data | 109th lowest rent out of 159
Median home value
$278,900
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$955/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$879/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
3.8x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
26.0%
Below 30% usually screens as less pressured.
Rent vs own
$76/mo
Median owner cost screens below median rent.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Rent burden below pressure line
26.00% of renter income goes to rent, below the 30% burden threshold.
Owning screens cheaper than renting
Median owner costs are $76/mo below median rent before individual mortgage terms.
What to Check
Health context
Health score is 41.6 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
- 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 Gilmer 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. | $278,900 | $161,000 | $281,900 | 73% pressure73% above Georgia county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $955 | $847 | $1,163 | 13% pressure13% above Georgia county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $879 | $786 | $1,672 | 12% pressure12% above Georgia county median |
Median household income | $72,542 | $55,714 | $74,755 | 30% favorable30% above Georgia county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 0.38% | 0.89% | 1.02% | 57% favorable57% below Georgia county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 26.00% | 28.00% | N/A | 7% favorable26.00% 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
+$34,342
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$34,871
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
Gilmer County is affordable for renters, with a median gross rent of $955/month representing approximately 15.8% of median household income. The rent burden (GRAPI) stands at 26.0%.
Rent vs own
Renters in Gilmer County pay $955/month on average, compared to $879/month for homeowners. This market favors buyers by about 8%.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $38,200/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $37,671/year. With a median household income of $72,542, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 26.0% of renter households in Gilmer County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Compared to Cook County where rent averages $901/month, Gilmer County is approximately 6% more expensive.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lumpkin County, GA | $277,200 | $1,090/mo | Same-state comparison near $277,200 home value and $1,090/mo rent. |
| White County, GA | $262,200 | $1,015/mo | Same-state comparison near $262,200 home value and $1,015/mo rent. |
| Pickens County, GA | $289,600 | $1,079/mo | Same-state comparison near $289,600 home value and $1,079/mo rent. |
| Glynn County, GA | $268,300 | $1,060/mo | Same-state comparison near $268,300 home value and $1,060/mo rent. |
| Harris County, GA | $278,700 | $941/mo | Same-state comparison near $278,700 home value and $941/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Gilmer County
Is Gilmer County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Gilmer County?
How much income do you need for housing in Gilmer County?
What should I double-check before moving to Gilmer County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.