Athens, Jefferson most expensive Georgia cities for housing, rent, USA Today study reveals

Jefferson is the most expensive city to buy a home in Georgia, according to a USA Today study, while Athens is fourth most expensive on the list.

The two cities also rank high in the study's most expensive places to afford rent. Jefferson is second behind Cedartown in highest rent average while Athens ranks sixth.

With an average cost per house near $400,000, Jefferson is listed ahead of Gainesville, Atlanta, Athens and Savannah for the typical value of a home.

With Georgia's cost of living at 67.5% of the median income, the state attracts many Americans looking to improve their financial situation .

However, Athens stands out with a typical home value of $352,250, making it a pricier option for those considering relocation within Georgia.

Even more expensive is Jefferson, which tops the list with a typical home value of $394,644. This makes Jefferson the most expensive city in Georgia for housing, adding to the financial considerations for potential movers.

Most expensive Georgia cities to buy a house

Here are the other most expensive cities in Georgia to buy a home, with average home value listed:

• Gainesville: $389,450
• Atlanta: $387,508
• Savannah: $342,876
• Cornelia: $306,260
• Brunswick: $302,870
• St. Marys: $295,483
• Calhoun: $268,318
• Statesboro: $267,384

What are the cheapest cities to move to in Georgia?

Here are the 10 least expensive cities in Georgia to buy a home, with average home value listed:

• Fitzgerald: $114,913
• Cordele: $128,994
• Americus: $130,067
• Moultrie: $137,871
• Waycross: $144,482
• Douglas: $152,230
• Albany: $158,155
• Dublin: $160,060
• Bainbridge: $161,555
• Vidalia: $167,194

Most expensive cities and the typical rent prices

• Cedartown $1,999
• Jefferson $1,970
• Atlanta $1,950
• Savannah $1,910
• Gainesville $1,824
• Athens $1,774
• Hinesville $1,728
• Brunswick $1,708
• Warner Robins $1,665
• St. Marys $1,565

Least expensive cities and typical rent rices

• Dublin $1,005
• Albany $1,029
• Macon $1,189
• Dalton $1,238
• Columbus $1,245
• Valdosta $1,302
• Rome $1,328
• LaGrange $1,330
• Augusta $1,434
• Statesboro $1,446

USA Today Georgia data collection

The data for this study was gathered by USA TODAY Homefront , which analyzed various metrics related to housing costs across different cities in Georgia.

This analysis included data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Zillow and local resources to investigate why people relocate in and out of Georgia.

Georgia was among the top five states with the highest net migration in 2022. The state saw a net gain of 74,520 residents, with 327,795 people moving in and 253,275 leaving.

The average home value in Georgia has risen 3.8% year-over-year to $333,862, with a median list price of $369,933 and a median sale price of $330,000.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Athens, Jefferson most expensive Georgia cities for housing, rent, USA Today study reveals