Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Nelson, Georgia
A $247,000 home here costs
$2,052per 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 $88,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,347. The real number is $706 higher every month, 52% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Cherokee County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Nelson from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,015 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 Cherokee 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.
Nelson against Cherokee County and Georgia
| Measure | Nelson | Cherokee County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $246,900 | $389,800 |
| Median property tax | $1,844 | $2,734 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.747% | 0.701% |
| Median gross rent | $1,072 | $1,703 |
| Population | 1,015 | 274,539 |
Nelson extends across 2 counties. Figures here use Cherokee County, where most of its housing sits.
The weather behind that power bill
Nelson sits in Cherokee County, which averages a high of 89.6°F in its hottest month and a low of 31.4°F in its coldest, with 48.06" of precipitation a year and 29% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,627 cooling and 3,118 heating degree days, which is what sets the $171 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Cherokee County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Cherokee County
Full Cherokee County cost breakdown · Every county in Georgia
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Nelson 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 Nelson every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Nelson I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Nelson?
A $247,000 home in Nelson, Georgia costs approximately $2,052 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,347 principal and interest, $154 property tax, $107 homeowners insurance, $239 utilities and $206 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Nelson?
Nelson has an effective property tax rate of 0.747%, based on a median home value of $246,900 and median real estate taxes of $1,844. That is higher than the Cherokee County average of 0.701%.
What is the average home price in Nelson?
The median owner-occupied home value in Nelson, Georgia is $246,900, against $389,800 across Cherokee County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Nelson?
Median gross rent in Nelson is $1,072 a month, against $2,052 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 Nelson?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Nelson, Georgia at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $88,000 a year. That covers the full $2,052 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Nelson, 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.