Cost to Own
United States › Georgia › Bibb County › Macon Population 156,543 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-15
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $605 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Bibb County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Macon, Georgia

A $166,000 home here costs

$1,525

per 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 $65,500 a year.

P&I 60%Tax 10%Insurance 5%Utilities 16%Upkeep 9%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $919. The real number is $605 higher every month, 66% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Bibb County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Macon median: $165,800
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
GA 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, $132,800 borrowed $919
Property tax1.101% effective rate for Macon itself $152
Homeowners insuranceGeorgia averages $1,466/yr (NAIC), or 0.521% of home value $72
Electricity16.27ยข/kWh, Georgia residential average, EIA $175
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $138
Total monthly $1,525

Macon against Bibb County and Georgia

MeasureMaconBibb County
Median home value$165,800$165,800
Median property tax$1,826$1,826
Effective tax rate1.101%1.101%
Median gross rent$1,026$1,026
Population156,543156,543

The weather behind that power bill

Macon sits in Bibb County, which averages a high of 93.5°F in its hottest month and a low of 35.9°F in its coldest, with 46.91" of precipitation a year and 29% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,326 cooling and 2,146 heating degree days, which is what sets the $175 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Bibb County

No other places of this size are published in Bibb County.

Full Bibb County cost breakdown · Every county in Georgia

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Macon 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 Macon every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in Macon I already own here and may sell

Common questions

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

A $166,000 home in Macon, Georgia costs approximately $1,525 per month with 20% down at 7.4%. That is $919 principal and interest, $152 property tax, $72 homeowners insurance, $243 utilities and $138 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Macon?

Macon has an effective property tax rate of 1.101%, based on a median home value of $165,800 and median real estate taxes of $1,826. That is in line with the Bibb County average of 1.101%.

What is the average home price in Macon?

The median owner-occupied home value in Macon, Georgia is $165,800, against $165,800 across Bibb County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Macon?

Median gross rent in Macon is $1,026 a month, against $1,525 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 Macon?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Macon, Georgia at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $65,500 a year. That covers the full $1,525 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Macon, 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