Housing decision brief
Richmond County, GA Housing Market
Richmond 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.
82nd lowest home value out of 159 Georgia counties with data | 126th lowest rent out of 159
Median home value
$163,300
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$1,087/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$991/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
3.1x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
33.0%
At or above the 30% burden threshold.
Rent vs own
$96/mo
Median owner cost screens below median rent.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Owning screens cheaper than renting
Median owner costs are $96/mo below median rent before individual mortgage terms.
What to Check
Lower income base
$53,197 median income is 5% below Georgia county median
Health context
Health score is 21.0 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
- Households dependent on a deep local wage market
- 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 Richmond 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. | $163,300 | $161,000 | $281,900 | Near state median1% above Georgia county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $1,087 | $847 | $1,163 | 28% pressure28% above Georgia county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $991 | $786 | $1,672 | 26% pressure26% above Georgia county median |
Median household income | $53,197 | $55,714 | $74,755 | 5% pressure5% below Georgia county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 0.88% | 0.89% | 1.02% | Near state median1% below Georgia county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 33.00% | 28.00% | N/A | 18% pressure33.00% 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
+$9,717
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$10,726
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
For renters in Richmond County, the market is affordable. Expect to pay around $1,087/month in gross rent, with 33.0% of renter households considered cost-burdened.
Rent vs own
At $1,087/month rent versus $991/month in owner costs, owning is roughly $96/month cheaper , a 9% difference.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $43,480/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $42,471/year. With a median household income of $53,197, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 33.0% of renter households in Richmond County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Within Georgia, Richmond County is less affordable than Houston County by roughly 5% ($1,087/mo vs $1,143/mo).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bibb County, GA | $165,800 | $1,026/mo | Same-state comparison near $165,800 home value and $1,026/mo rent. |
| Muscogee County, GA | $182,300 | $1,072/mo | Same-state comparison near $182,300 home value and $1,072/mo rent. |
| Troup County, GA | $187,800 | $1,044/mo | Same-state comparison near $187,800 home value and $1,044/mo rent. |
| Polk County, GA | $163,500 | $870/mo | Same-state comparison near $163,500 home value and $870/mo rent. |
| Baldwin County, GA | $164,700 | $865/mo | Same-state comparison near $164,700 home value and $865/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Richmond County
Is Richmond County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Richmond County?
How much income do you need for housing in Richmond County?
What should I double-check before moving to Richmond County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.