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Cost & Benefits

Most affordable towns in Georgia, 2026

Sylvester is the most affordable ranked town in Georgia. Rent, the regional price level, taxes, and electricity are 22.5% each. Gasoline is 10%. A lower score is more affordable.

Summary

165
Towns ranked in Georgia.
Sylvester
Number 1 in Georgia. Rent is 18.4% of income. National rank 650.
23.0%
Median rent share among ranked towns in Georgia.
0
Ranked Georgia towns in the national top 100.
Clarkston
Least affordable ranked town in Georgia. Rent is 35.1% of income. National rank 4606.

Gasoline

$4.035

per gallon. EIA does not publish a Georgia price. This is the Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C) price for the week of October 12, 2026. At 12,000 miles a year and 25 mpg, that is $1,936.80 a year for every ranked town in Georgia.

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Cost & Benefits. "2026 Most Affordable Towns Index: Georgia." October 16, 2026. https://costandbenefits.com/reports/most-affordable-towns-2026/georgia

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Benefits and taxes in Georgia

Top 25

  1. #1 in Georgia · National #650

    Sylvester

    Rent share 18.4% · Price level 87.7 · Score 0.273

    Median rent is $896 a month and median income is $58,417, so rent is 18.4% of income, under the 23.0% median for ranked towns in Georgia. The Albany, GA metro price level is 87.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.035 a gallon (Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  2. #2 in Georgia · National #714

    Evans

    Rent share 15.5% · Price level 91.9 · Score 0.280

    Median rent is $1,617 a month and median income is $125,098, so rent is 15.5% of income, under the 23.0% median for ranked towns in Georgia. The Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro price level is 91.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.035 a gallon (Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  3. #3 in Georgia · National #726

    Byron

    Rent share 14.3% · Price level 93.8 · Score 0.281

    Median rent is $1,020 a month and median income is $85,596, so rent is 14.3% of income, under the 23.0% median for ranked towns in Georgia. The Warner Robins, GA metro price level is 93.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.035 a gallon (Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  4. #4 in Georgia · National #833

    Bemiss

    Rent share 18.3% · Price level 88.3 · Score 0.290

    Median rent is $1,417 a month and median income is $92,842, so rent is 18.3% of income, under the 23.0% median for ranked towns in Georgia. The Valdosta, GA metro price level is 88.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.035 a gallon (Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  5. #5 in Georgia · National #870

    Glennville

    Rent share 12.4% · Price level 96.3 · Score 0.293

    Median rent is $548 a month and median income is $52,844, so rent is 12.4% of income, under the 23.0% median for ranked towns in Georgia. The Georgia state price level is 96.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.035 a gallon (Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  6. #6 in Georgia · National #968

    Jefferson

    Rent share 11.7% · Price level 96.3 · Score 0.301

    Median rent is $1,074 a month and median income is $109,828, so rent is 11.7% of income, under the 23.0% median for ranked towns in Georgia. The Georgia state price level is 96.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.035 a gallon (Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  7. #7 in Georgia · National #1117

    Fairview

    Rent share 18.5% · Price level 91.5 · Score 0.311

    Median rent is $989 a month and median income is $64,050, so rent is 18.5% of income, under the 23.0% median for ranked towns in Georgia. The Chattanooga, TN-GA metro price level is 91.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.035 a gallon (Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  8. #8 in Georgia · National #1140

    Dalton

    Rent share 18.8% · Price level 89.8 · Score 0.313

    Median rent is $996 a month and median income is $63,577, so rent is 18.8% of income, under the 23.0% median for ranked towns in Georgia. The Dalton, GA metro price level is 89.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.035 a gallon (Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  9. #9 in Georgia · National #1316

    Perry

    Rent share 17.7% · Price level 93.8 · Score 0.325

    Median rent is $1,132 a month and median income is $76,909, so rent is 17.7% of income, under the 23.0% median for ranked towns in Georgia. The Warner Robins, GA metro price level is 93.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.035 a gallon (Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  10. #10 in Georgia · National #1376

    Martinez

    Rent share 18.9% · Price level 91.9 · Score 0.329

    Median rent is $1,284 a month and median income is $81,602, so rent is 18.9% of income, under the 23.0% median for ranked towns in Georgia. The Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro price level is 91.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.035 a gallon (Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  11. #11 in Georgia · National #1398

    Bremen

    Rent share 12.2% · Price level 100.1 · Score 0.330

    Median rent is $951 a month and median income is $93,780, so rent is 12.2% of income, under the 23.0% median for ranked towns in Georgia. The Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro price level is 100.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.035 a gallon (Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is regional price level.

  12. #12 in Georgia · National #1419

    Eastman

    Rent share 17.6% · Price level 96.3 · Score 0.331

    Median rent is $770 a month and median income is $52,394, so rent is 17.6% of income, under the 23.0% median for ranked towns in Georgia. The Georgia state price level is 96.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.035 a gallon (Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  13. #13 in Georgia · National #1505

    Tyrone

    Rent share 10.5% · Price level 100.1 · Score 0.337

    Median rent is $1,191 a month and median income is $135,691, so rent is 10.5% of income, under the 23.0% median for ranked towns in Georgia. The Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro price level is 100.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.035 a gallon (Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  14. #14 in Georgia · National #1544

    Jesup

    Rent share 17.8% · Price level 96.3 · Score 0.340

    Median rent is $696 a month and median income is $46,974, so rent is 17.8% of income, under the 23.0% median for ranked towns in Georgia. The Georgia state price level is 96.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.035 a gallon (Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  15. #15 in Georgia · National #1580

    Toccoa

    Rent share 17.6% · Price level 96.3 · Score 0.342

    Median rent is $711 a month and median income is $48,438, so rent is 17.6% of income, under the 23.0% median for ranked towns in Georgia. The Georgia state price level is 96.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.035 a gallon (Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  16. #16 in Georgia · National #1594

    Barnesville

    Rent share 17.7% · Price level 96.3 · Score 0.342

    Median rent is $846 a month and median income is $57,411, so rent is 17.7% of income, under the 23.0% median for ranked towns in Georgia. The Georgia state price level is 96.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.035 a gallon (Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  17. #17 in Georgia · National #1628

    Grovetown

    Rent share 19.7% · Price level 91.9 · Score 0.344

    Median rent is $1,407 a month and median income is $85,660, so rent is 19.7% of income, under the 23.0% median for ranked towns in Georgia. The Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro price level is 91.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.035 a gallon (Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  18. #18 in Georgia · National #1685

    Social Circle

    Rent share 14.7% · Price level 100.1 · Score 0.349

    Median rent is $1,083 a month and median income is $88,591, so rent is 14.7% of income, under the 23.0% median for ranked towns in Georgia. The Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro price level is 100.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.035 a gallon (Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is regional price level.

  19. #19 in Georgia · National #1707

    Blakely

    Rent share 18.4% · Price level 96.3 · Score 0.350

    Median rent is $765 a month and median income is $49,821, so rent is 18.4% of income, under the 23.0% median for ranked towns in Georgia. The Georgia state price level is 96.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.035 a gallon (Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  20. #20 in Georgia · National #1719

    St. Simons

    Rent share 19.8% · Price level 87.7 · Score 0.352

    Median rent is $1,799 a month and median income is $108,771, so rent is 19.8% of income, under the 23.0% median for ranked towns in Georgia. The Brunswick-St. Simons, GA metro price level is 87.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.035 a gallon (Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  21. #21 in Georgia · National #1835

    Albany

    Rent share 23.6% · Price level 87.7 · Score 0.359

    Median rent is $931 a month and median income is $47,240, so rent is 23.6% of income, over the 23.0% median for ranked towns in Georgia. The Albany, GA metro price level is 87.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.035 a gallon (Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  22. #22 in Georgia · National #1865

    LaFayette

    Rent share 21.9% · Price level 91.5 · Score 0.361

    Median rent is $840 a month and median income is $46,018, so rent is 21.9% of income, under the 23.0% median for ranked towns in Georgia. The Chattanooga, TN-GA metro price level is 91.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.035 a gallon (Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  23. #23 in Georgia · National #1876

    Calhoun

    Rent share 17.8% · Price level 96.3 · Score 0.362

    Median rent is $873 a month and median income is $58,750, so rent is 17.8% of income, under the 23.0% median for ranked towns in Georgia. The Georgia state price level is 96.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.035 a gallon (Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  24. #24 in Georgia · National #1879

    McRae-Helena

    Rent share 19.6% · Price level 96.3 · Score 0.362

    Median rent is $713 a month and median income is $43,618, so rent is 19.6% of income, under the 23.0% median for ranked towns in Georgia. The Georgia state price level is 96.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.035 a gallon (Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  25. #25 in Georgia · National #1908

    Sandersville

    Rent share 19.5% · Price level 96.3 · Score 0.364

    Median rent is $811 a month and median income is $49,833, so rent is 19.5% of income, under the 23.0% median for ranked towns in Georgia. The Georgia state price level is 96.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.035 a gallon (Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

Least affordable 10

  1. #165 in Georgia · National #4606

    Clarkston

    Rent share 35.1% · Price level 100.1 · Score 0.568

    Median rent is $1,422 a month and median income is $48,564, so rent is 35.1% of income, over the 23.0% median for ranked towns in Georgia. The Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro price level is 100.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.035 a gallon (Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  2. #164 in Georgia · National #4573

    Lawrenceville

    Rent share 31.4% · Price level 100.1 · Score 0.567

    Median rent is $1,613 a month and median income is $61,561, so rent is 31.4% of income, over the 23.0% median for ranked towns in Georgia. The Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro price level is 100.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.035 a gallon (Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  3. #163 in Georgia · National #4555

    Lilburn

    Rent share 33.6% · Price level 100.1 · Score 0.566

    Median rent is $1,778 a month and median income is $63,581, so rent is 33.6% of income, over the 23.0% median for ranked towns in Georgia. The Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro price level is 100.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.035 a gallon (Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  4. #162 in Georgia · National #4526

    Doraville

    Rent share 33.3% · Price level 100.1 · Score 0.563

    Median rent is $1,868 a month and median income is $67,235, so rent is 33.3% of income, over the 23.0% median for ranked towns in Georgia. The Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro price level is 100.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.035 a gallon (Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  5. #161 in Georgia · National #4416

    College Park

    Rent share 28.1% · Price level 100.1 · Score 0.555

    Median rent is $1,207 a month and median income is $51,635, so rent is 28.1% of income, over the 23.0% median for ranked towns in Georgia. The Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro price level is 100.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.035 a gallon (Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  6. #160 in Georgia · National #4395

    Norcross

    Rent share 27.3% · Price level 100.1 · Score 0.554

    Median rent is $1,715 a month and median income is $75,266, so rent is 27.3% of income, over the 23.0% median for ranked towns in Georgia. The Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro price level is 100.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.035 a gallon (Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  7. #159 in Georgia · National #4393

    Marietta

    Rent share 26.2% · Price level 100.1 · Score 0.553

    Median rent is $1,586 a month and median income is $72,725, so rent is 26.2% of income, over the 23.0% median for ranked towns in Georgia. The Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro price level is 100.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.035 a gallon (Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  8. #158 in Georgia · National #4366

    Monroe

    Rent share 29.7% · Price level 100.1 · Score 0.552

    Median rent is $1,105 a month and median income is $44,656, so rent is 29.7% of income, over the 23.0% median for ranked towns in Georgia. The Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro price level is 100.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.035 a gallon (Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  9. #157 in Georgia · National #4349

    Union City

    Rent share 32.2% · Price level 100.1 · Score 0.551

    Median rent is $1,330 a month and median income is $49,549, so rent is 32.2% of income, over the 23.0% median for ranked towns in Georgia. The Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro price level is 100.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.035 a gallon (Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  10. #156 in Georgia · National #4336

    Loganville

    Rent share 29.0% · Price level 100.1 · Score 0.549

    Median rent is $2,018 a month and median income is $83,605, so rent is 29.0% of income, over the 23.0% median for ranked towns in Georgia. The Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro price level is 100.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.035 a gallon (Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

The formula

A lower score is more affordable. Rent share, the regional price level, taxes, and electricity each count 22.5%. Gasoline counts 10%. Those weights are our choice. Gasoline stays at 10% because the miles figure is one national standard, not a measured town commute. This is not a government standard.

A percentile is the share of ranked towns with a strictly lower number, divided by the number of ranked towns minus one. The lowest number scores 0. Tied numbers share a percentile.

  1. Rent share = (median monthly rent × 12) / median household income. Both figures are the Census 2020–2024 medians for that place.
  2. RPP-adjusted cost is the BEA 2024 all-items regional price parity. A basket priced at 100 for the U.S. average costs this many dollars in the town's area. We use the metro index when the county is in a metro BEA publishes. Otherwise we use the state index and say so. This index includes housing, so housing also shows up in the rent share.
  3. Tax burden is the average of three percentiles. Income-tax share is state income tax plus the stored 2023 local AGI add-on, divided by the town's median household income, on a joint return. Property share is the state's median effective property-tax rate times the town's median home value, divided by income. Sales rate is the combined state and average local sales-tax rate. We do not turn the sales rate into dollars, because that would require a shopping basket we do not have.
  4. Electricity is the state residential price in cents per kilowatt-hour. Every town in a state shares it. We do not guess how many kilowatt-hours a home uses.
  5. Gasoline is the EIA retail price for all grades and all formulations, in dollars per gallon. Where EIA publishes a state series, we use that state. Every other state uses the PADD region EIA assigns to it. Census does not publish commuting miles for these towns, so annual gas spend is 12,000 miles a year divided by 25 miles per gallon, times the price. That is 480 gallons, the same for every town. Those miles are our standard, not an ACS figure and not a government mileage rule. Because the gallons do not change, the gas percentile is the percentile of the price.

    Weekly prices are for the week of October 12, 2026, from the EIA workbook released October 14, 2026. File: https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/gasdiesel/xls/pswrgvwall.xls. Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, and Oregon use West Coast (PADD 5) Except California. That series is not in the weekly workbook, so those five use the monthly price dated September 15, 2026. File: https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_gnd_a_epm0_pte_dpgal_m.htm.

    • State series, week of October 12, 2026: California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Texas, Washington.
    • Central Atlantic (PADD 1B), week of October 12, 2026: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania.
    • Gulf Coast (PADD 3), week of October 12, 2026: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico.
    • Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C), week of October 12, 2026: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia.
    • Midwest (PADD 2), week of October 12, 2026: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin.
    • New England (PADD 1A), week of October 12, 2026: Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont.
    • Rocky Mountain (PADD 4), week of October 12, 2026: Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming.
    • West Coast (PADD 5) Except California, September 15, 2026: Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon.

Score = 0.225 × rent percentile + 0.225 × price-level percentile + 0.225 × tax score + 0.225 × electricity percentile + 0.10 × gasoline percentile. Rank 1 is the lowest score. If scores tie, the lower rent share wins, then the lower price level, then the place slug in A-to-Z order.

Questions

What is the most affordable town in Georgia in this index?

Sylvester is number 1 of 165 ranked towns in Georgia. Median rent is 18.4% of median income. Its national rank is 650.

How many towns in Georgia were ranked?

165 towns in Georgia have at least 5,000 people and published Census rent, income, and home value. Places missing one of those figures are left out.

Does this ranking approve benefits in Georgia?

No. Cost & Benefits does not approve or deny benefits. The score is a cost comparison only.