10 Most Affordable Housing Markets in Georgia

Whether you want to live in a big city or small town, Georgia offers affordable housing options.

While Atlanta and surrounding areas require home-buying budgets north of $400,000, at least ten towns in the state offer homes at about one-third that cost.

If you’re ready to become a homeowner, check out these locations.

1. Americus
2. Waycross
3. Albany
4. Moultrie
5. Douglas
6. Columbus
7. Bainbridge
8. Macon
9. Thomaston
10. Augusta

1. Americus

*Payments mentioned do not include taxes, insurance, or HOA dues. Example purposes only. Not a commitment to lend. See methodology for payment details.

The most affordable town on our list, Americus offers an estimated mortgage payment under $800 according to our methodology. That’s much less than you’ll pay for rent in most of the state. Homebuyers here will have plenty of money left over each month to enjoy the area’s Southern-fare restaurants, golf courses, boutique shops, and museums.

Explore Georgia mortgage rates.

2. Waycross

This town an hour and a half northwest of Jacksonville, Florida is not only affordable, but eligible for the zero-down USDA home loan program, making homeownership here that much more attainable.

Get pre-approved for your Georgia USDA loan. Start here.

3. Albany

One of the larger cities on our list, Albany boasts a population of nearly 70,000. Its home prices continue to rise beyond a previous 2022 high of $115,000, showing long-term promise for homeowners who want to start building equity.

4. Moultrie

Colquitt County Courthouse, Moultrie, Georgia.

Another southern Georgia gem is Moultrie. About an hour north of the Florida border, this town offers homes in the low 100s, affordable for just about any budget.

Start your Georgia pre-approval.

5. Douglas

Not only does Douglas attract homebuyers, thanks to ultra-low prices, but WWII buffs will enjoy it here, too. Visit the WWII Flight Training Museum where thousands prepared to serve their country.

6. Columbus

You can still find deals in Columbus, where 54% of homes sold below list price, according to Zillow. But don’t wait too long: homes go under contract in just 14 days and prices are up 6% year-over-year.

7. Bainbridge

Bainbridge residents have easy access to Lake Seminole, a 37,500-acre reservoir great for boating and fishing. The town is popular for homebuyers, too, with nearly a 9% home value increase in the past year.

8. Macon

Just an hour and a half south of Atlanta, Macon is a larger city on our list, with a population of around 153,000. Home prices aren’t large, however; we estimate the typical mortgage payment here to be under $1,100 per month.

9. Thomaston

A smaller town of under 10,000, the entire town of Thomaston is another Georgia location eligible for a zero-down USDA loan. Though a 5% down payment here would be around $8,000, USDA makes it even easier to get into a home.

See how much you can afford in Georgia.

10. Augusta

The largest city on our list, Augusta is a city of around 200,000. You’ll find plenty of employment opportunities that will help you qualify for reasonable home prices here. Companies like EZGO Textron golf car company, Graphic Packaging paperboard, Cardinal Health, Coca-Cola, and others support the local economy.

Get Pre-approved for Your Georgia Home

Georgia is more affordable than most states in the U.S., and the above-mentioned areas are the least expensive in the state. Check your eligibility to buy. Request your pre-approval from a reputable lender.

Get pre-approved for your Georgia home now.

Methodology

To find the 10 most affordable housing markets in Georgia, we started with typical home prices as reported on the Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) Single-Family Home Time Series for February 2024. We assumed a 5% down payment, the typical requirement for first-time buyers. We then calculated the monthly payment on a 30-year fixed mortgage at 6.946%, the average rate published on Optimal Blue Mortgage Market Indices for a buyer with less than 20% down and a 700 FICO score. We added PMI costs per mortgage insurance provider MGIC. The stated mortgage payment does not include homeowner’s insurance, property taxes, or HOA dues. To increase relevancy, we limited eligible cities to the top 3,000 largest by population nationwide per Zillow’s report.