Cost to Own
United StatesGeorgiaHabersham CountyDemorest Population 2,335 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Demorest, Georgia

A $217,000 home here costs

$1,717

per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,116. The real number is $602 higher every month — 54% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Demorest median: $216,800
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
US average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $173,600 borrowed $1,116
Property tax0.643% effective rate for Demorest itself $116
Homeowners insuranceGeorgia averages $1,466/yr (NAIC), or 0.521% of home value $94
Electricity15.84¢/kWh — Georgia residential average, EIA $142
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $181
Total monthly $1,717

Demorest against Habersham County and Georgia

MeasureDemorestHabersham County
Median home value$216,800$212,000
Median property tax$1,395$1,330
Effective tax rate0.643%0.627%
Median gross rent$1,244$939
Population2,33546,948

The weather behind that power bill

Demorest sits in Habersham County, which averages a high of 88.2°F in its hottest month and a low of 29.1°F in its coldest, with 61.8" of precipitation a year and 28% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,295 cooling and 3,595 heating degree days, which is what sets the $142 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Habersham County — month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Habersham County

Full Habersham County cost breakdown · Every county in Georgia

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Demorest?

A $217,000 home in Demorest, Georgia costs approximately $1,717 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $1,116 principal and interest, $116 property tax, $94 homeowners insurance, $210 utilities and $181 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Demorest?

Demorest has an effective property tax rate of 0.643%, based on a median home value of $216,800 and median real estate taxes of $1,395. That is higher than the Habersham County average of 0.627%.

What is the average home price in Demorest?

The median owner-occupied home value in Demorest, Georgia is $216,800, against $212,000 across Habersham County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Demorest?

Median gross rent in Demorest is $1,244 a month, against $1,717 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 Demorest — 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.

Full methodology