Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance), Georgia
A $272,000 home here costs
$2,156per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,398. The real number is $758 higher every month — 54% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance) against Clarke County and Georgia
| Measure | Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance) | Clarke County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $271,800 | $271,900 |
| Median property tax | $2,431 | $2,444 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.894% | 0.899% |
| Median gross rent | $1,162 | $1,162 |
| Population | 126,987 | 129,267 |
The weather behind that power bill
Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance) sits in Clarke County, which averages a high of 92.0°F in its hottest month and a low of 33.8°F in its coldest, with 48.95" of precipitation a year and 28% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,955 cooling and 2,670 heating degree days, which is what sets the $142 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Clarke County — month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Clarke County
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance)?
A $272,000 home in Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance), Georgia costs approximately $2,156 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $1,398 principal and interest, $203 property tax, $118 homeowners insurance, $210 utilities and $227 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance)?
Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance) has an effective property tax rate of 0.894%, based on a median home value of $271,800 and median real estate taxes of $2,431. That is in line with the Clarke County average of 0.899%.
What is the average home price in Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance)?
The median owner-occupied home value in Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance), Georgia is $271,800, against $271,900 across Clarke County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance)?
Median gross rent in Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance) is $1,162 a month, against $2,156 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance) — US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance — NAIC average premium for Georgia.
- Electricity price — EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate — Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.