Cost to Own
United StatesGeorgiaChatham CountyWilmington Island Population 14,457 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Wilmington Island, Georgia

A $362,000 home here costs

$2,782

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

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,861. The real number is $921 higher every month — 50% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Wilmington Island median: $361,600
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, $289,600 borrowed $1,861
Property tax0.836% effective rate for Wilmington Island itself $252
Homeowners insuranceGeorgia averages $1,466/yr (NAIC), or 0.521% of home value $157
Electricity15.84¢/kWh — Georgia residential average, EIA $142
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $302
Total monthly $2,782

Wilmington Island against Chatham County and Georgia

MeasureWilmington IslandChatham County
Median home value$361,600$273,300
Median property tax$3,023$2,463
Effective tax rate0.836%0.901%
Median gross rent$1,680$1,382
Population14,457298,143

The weather behind that power bill

Wilmington Island sits in Chatham County, which averages a high of 92.3°F in its hottest month and a low of 40.0°F in its coldest, with 48.12" of precipitation a year and 37% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,596 cooling and 1,675 heating degree days, which is what sets the $142 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Chatham County

Full Chatham County cost breakdown · Every county in Georgia

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Wilmington Island?

A $362,000 home in Wilmington Island, Georgia costs approximately $2,782 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $1,861 principal and interest, $252 property tax, $157 homeowners insurance, $210 utilities and $302 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Wilmington Island?

Wilmington Island has an effective property tax rate of 0.836%, based on a median home value of $361,600 and median real estate taxes of $3,023. That is lower than the Chatham County average of 0.901%.

What is the average home price in Wilmington Island?

The median owner-occupied home value in Wilmington Island, Georgia is $361,600, against $273,300 across Chatham County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Wilmington Island?

Median gross rent in Wilmington Island is $1,680 a month, against $2,782 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 Wilmington Island — 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