Housing decision brief
Houston County, GA Housing Market
Houston 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.
109th lowest home value out of 159 Georgia counties with data | 131st lowest rent out of 159
Median home value
$205,600
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$1,143/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$1,219/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
2.5x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
28.0%
Below 30% usually screens as less pressured.
Rent vs own
$76/mo
Median rent screens below owner cost.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Rent burden below pressure line
28.00% of renter income goes to rent, below the 30% burden threshold.
What to Check
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
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 Houston 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. | $205,600 | $161,000 | $281,900 | 28% pressure28% above Georgia county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $1,143 | $847 | $1,163 | 35% pressure35% above Georgia county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $1,219 | $786 | $1,672 | 55% pressure55% above Georgia county median |
Median household income | $80,743 | $55,714 | $74,755 | 45% favorable45% above Georgia county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 0.86% | 0.89% | 1.02% | Near state median4% below Georgia county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 28.00% | 28.00% | N/A | Near state median28.00% 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
+$35,023
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$28,500
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
Houston County is affordable for renters, with a median gross rent of $1,143/month representing approximately 17.0% of median household income. The rent burden (GRAPI) stands at 28.0%.
Rent vs own
At $1,143/month rent versus $1,219/month in owner costs, renting is roughly $76/month cheaper , a 6% difference.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $45,720/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $52,243/year. With a median household income of $80,743, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 28.0% of renter households in Houston County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Compared to Lumpkin County where rent averages $1,090/month, Houston County is approximately 5% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lee County, GA | $226,900 | $1,147/mo | Same-state comparison near $226,900 home value and $1,147/mo rent. |
| Carroll County, GA | $227,500 | $1,124/mo | Same-state comparison near $227,500 home value and $1,124/mo rent. |
| Effingham County, GA | $245,300 | $1,116/mo | Same-state comparison near $245,300 home value and $1,116/mo rent. |
| Camden County, GA | $233,900 | $1,167/mo | Same-state comparison near $233,900 home value and $1,167/mo rent. |
| Barrow County, GA | $255,200 | $1,197/mo | Same-state comparison near $255,200 home value and $1,197/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Houston County
Is Houston County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Houston County?
How much income do you need for housing in Houston County?
What should I double-check before moving to Houston County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.