Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Valdosta, Georgia
A $165,000 home here costs
$1,484per 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 $63,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $900. The real number is $585 higher every month, 65% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Lowndes County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Valdosta against Lowndes County and Georgia
| Measure | Valdosta | Lowndes County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $165,300 | $197,900 |
| Median property tax | $1,643 | $1,643 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.994% | 0.830% |
| Median gross rent | $1,000 | $1,002 |
| Population | 55,222 | 119,055 |
The weather behind that power bill
Valdosta sits in Lowndes 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 Lowndes County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Lowndes County
Full Lowndes County cost breakdown · Every county in Georgia
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Valdosta 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 Valdosta every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Valdosta I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Valdosta?
A $165,000 home in Valdosta, Georgia costs approximately $1,484 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $900 principal and interest, $137 property tax, $72 homeowners insurance, $239 utilities and $138 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Valdosta?
Valdosta has an effective property tax rate of 0.994%, based on a median home value of $165,300 and median real estate taxes of $1,643. That is higher than the Lowndes County average of 0.830%.
What is the average home price in Valdosta?
The median owner-occupied home value in Valdosta, Georgia is $165,300, against $197,900 across Lowndes County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Valdosta?
Median gross rent in Valdosta is $1,000 a month, against $1,484 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 Valdosta?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Valdosta, Georgia at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $63,500 a year. That covers the full $1,484 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Valdosta, 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.