Cost to Own
United StatesGeorgiaTelfair CountyMcRae-Helena Population 5,959 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in McRae-Helena, Georgia

A $112,000 home here costs

$1,016

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

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $576. The real number is $441 higher every month — 77% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

McRae-Helena median: $111,800
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, $89,600 borrowed $576
Property tax0.945% effective rate for McRae-Helena itself $88
Homeowners insuranceGeorgia averages $1,466/yr (NAIC), or 0.521% of home value $49
Electricity15.84¢/kWh — Georgia residential average, EIA $142
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $93
Total monthly $1,016

McRae-Helena against Telfair County and Georgia

MeasureMcRae-HelenaTelfair County
Median home value$111,800$108,200
Median property tax$1,056$1,181
Effective tax rate0.945%1.091%
Median gross rent$606$614
Population5,95912,174

McRae-Helena extends across 2 counties. Figures here use Telfair County, where most of its housing sits.

The weather behind that power bill

McRae-Helena sits in Telfair County, which averages a high of 91.7°F in its hottest month and a low of 36.9°F in its coldest, with 47.48" of precipitation a year and 32% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,205 cooling and 1,993 heating degree days, which is what sets the $142 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Telfair County

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

Full Telfair County cost breakdown · Every county in Georgia

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in McRae-Helena?

A $112,000 home in McRae-Helena, Georgia costs approximately $1,016 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $576 principal and interest, $88 property tax, $49 homeowners insurance, $210 utilities and $93 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in McRae-Helena?

McRae-Helena has an effective property tax rate of 0.945%, based on a median home value of $111,800 and median real estate taxes of $1,056. That is lower than the Telfair County average of 1.091%.

What is the average home price in McRae-Helena?

The median owner-occupied home value in McRae-Helena, Georgia is $111,800, against $108,200 across Telfair County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in McRae-Helena?

Median gross rent in McRae-Helena is $606 a month, against $1,016 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 McRae-Helena — 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