Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Ellijay, Georgia
A $278,000 home here costs
$2,197per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $94,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,516. The real number is $681 higher every month, 45% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Gilmer County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Ellijay from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,931 residents that sample is small. The median home value here carries a much wider margin of error than a big-city figure does, so treat it as indicative rather than exact. The Gilmer County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Ellijay against Gilmer County and Georgia
| Measure | Ellijay | Gilmer County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $277,600 | $278,900 |
| Median property tax | $1,076 | $1,070 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.388% | 0.384% |
| Median gross rent | $728 | $955 |
| Population | 1,931 | 31,976 |
The weather behind that power bill
Ellijay sits in Gilmer County, which averages a high of 84.5°F in its hottest month and a low of 31.1°F in its coldest, with 58.65" of precipitation a year and 28% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,166 cooling and 3,595 heating degree days, which is what sets the $171 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Gilmer County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Gilmer County
No other places of this size are published in Gilmer County.
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Ellijay 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 Ellijay every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Ellijay I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Ellijay?
A $278,000 home in Ellijay, Georgia costs approximately $2,197 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,516 principal and interest, $90 property tax, $121 homeowners insurance, $239 utilities and $232 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Ellijay?
Ellijay has an effective property tax rate of 0.388%, based on a median home value of $277,600 and median real estate taxes of $1,076. That is in line with the Gilmer County average of 0.384%.
What is the average home price in Ellijay?
The median owner-occupied home value in Ellijay, Georgia is $277,600, against $278,900 across Gilmer County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Ellijay?
Median gross rent in Ellijay is $728 a month, against $2,197 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 Ellijay?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Ellijay, Georgia at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $94,000 a year. That covers the full $2,197 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Ellijay, 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.