Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Royston, Georgia
A $221,000 home here costs
$1,849per 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 $79,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,205. The real number is $644 higher every month, 53% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Madison County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Royston from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 2,335 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 Madison 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.
Royston against Madison County and Georgia
| Measure | Royston | Madison County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $220,500 | $198,800 |
| Median property tax | $1,497 | $1,608 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.679% | 0.809% |
| Median gross rent | $508 | $951 |
| Population | 2,335 | 30,914 |
Royston extends across 3 counties. Figures here use Madison County, where most of its housing sits.
The weather behind that power bill
Royston sits in Madison County, which averages a high of 89.3°F in its hottest month and a low of 31.7°F in its coldest, with 51.2" of precipitation a year and 28% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,573 cooling and 3,118 heating degree days, which is what sets the $171 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Madison County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Madison County
Full Madison County cost breakdown · Every county in Georgia
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Royston 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 Royston every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Royston I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Royston?
A $221,000 home in Royston, Georgia costs approximately $1,849 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,205 principal and interest, $125 property tax, $96 homeowners insurance, $239 utilities and $184 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Royston?
Royston has an effective property tax rate of 0.679%, based on a median home value of $220,500 and median real estate taxes of $1,497. That is lower than the Madison County average of 0.809%.
What is the average home price in Royston?
The median owner-occupied home value in Royston, Georgia is $220,500, against $198,800 across Madison County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Royston?
Median gross rent in Royston is $508 a month, against $1,849 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 Royston?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Royston, Georgia at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $79,000 a year. That covers the full $1,849 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Royston, 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.