Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Clarkston, Georgia
A $280,000 home here costs
$2,385per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.40% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $102,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,551. The real number is $834 higher every month, 54% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare DeKalb County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Clarkston against DeKalb County and Georgia
| Measure | Clarkston | DeKalb County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $279,500 | $331,400 |
| Median property tax | $2,828 | $3,046 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.012% | 0.919% |
| Median gross rent | $1,355 | $1,591 |
| Population | 14,560 | 762,105 |
The weather behind that power bill
Clarkston sits in DeKalb County, which averages a high of 89.4°F in its hottest month and a low of 32.7°F in its coldest, with 51.43" of precipitation a year and 27% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,728 cooling and 2,980 heating degree days, which is what sets the $175 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for DeKalb County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in DeKalb County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Clarkston averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Clarkston every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Clarkston I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Clarkston?
A $280,000 home in Clarkston, Georgia costs approximately $2,385 per month with 20% down at 7.4%. That is $1,551 principal and interest, $236 property tax, $122 homeowners insurance, $243 utilities and $233 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Clarkston?
Clarkston has an effective property tax rate of 1.012%, based on a median home value of $279,500 and median real estate taxes of $2,828. That is higher than the DeKalb County average of 0.919%.
What is the average home price in Clarkston?
The median owner-occupied home value in Clarkston, Georgia is $279,500, against $331,400 across DeKalb County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Clarkston?
Median gross rent in Clarkston is $1,355 a month, against $2,385 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Clarkston?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Clarkston, Georgia at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $102,000 a year. That covers the full $2,385 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Clarkston, 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.