Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Lakeland, Georgia
A $146,000 home here costs
$1,341per 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 $57,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $796. The real number is $545 higher every month, 68% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Lanier County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Lakeland from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 2,943 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 Lanier 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.
Lakeland against Lanier County and Georgia
| Measure | Lakeland | Lanier County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $145,900 | $161,100 |
| Median property tax | $1,448 | $1,639 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.992% | 1.017% |
| Median gross rent | $859 | $878 |
| Population | 2,943 | 10,094 |
The weather behind that power bill
Lakeland sits in Lanier County, which averages a high of 92.1°F in its hottest month and a low of 38.6°F in its coldest, with 48.41" of precipitation a year and 36% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,409 cooling and 1,649 heating degree days, which is what sets the $171 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Lanier County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Lanier County
No other places of this size are published in Lanier County.
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Lakeland 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 Lakeland every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Lakeland I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Lakeland?
A $146,000 home in Lakeland, Georgia costs approximately $1,341 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $796 principal and interest, $121 property tax, $63 homeowners insurance, $239 utilities and $122 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Lakeland?
Lakeland has an effective property tax rate of 0.992%, based on a median home value of $145,900 and median real estate taxes of $1,448. That is lower than the Lanier County average of 1.017%.
What is the average home price in Lakeland?
The median owner-occupied home value in Lakeland, Georgia is $145,900, against $161,100 across Lanier County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Lakeland?
Median gross rent in Lakeland is $859 a month, against $1,341 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 Lakeland?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Lakeland, Georgia at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $57,500 a year. That covers the full $1,341 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Lakeland, 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.