The 31021 zip code in Dublin tops our ranking of the most affordable places to live in Georgia.
We looked at 285 zip codes in the state, evaluating home values, rental costs, energy rates, property taxes, and five other affordability indicators. We used the data we gathered to calculate our proprietary Affordability Score for each zip code.
Top 10 most affordable places to live in Georgia
| Rank | City | Affordability Score | Median home value | Rental costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dublin 🥇 | 100.0 | $191,950 | $1,023 |
| 2 | Macon 🥈 | 94.2 | $246,708 | $1,330 |
| 3 | Albany 🥉 | 94.1 | $77,657 | $810 |
| 4 | Bremen | 92.8 | $288,205 | $1,221 |
| 5 | East Point | 92.7 | $224,685 | $1,495 |
| 6 | Cordele | 92.3 | $134,969 | $1,772 |
| 7 | Eastman | 92.0 | $153,059 | $1,772 |
| 8 | Columbus | 91.6 | $129,784 | $892 |
| 9 | Moultrie | 90.3 | $150,123 | $1,772 |
| 10 | Cairo | 89.6 | $165,749 | $1,772 |
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1. Dublin
Here's why the 31021 zip code in Dublin is Georgia's most affordable place to live.
🔎 Key data about Dublin
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 285 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 100.0 | No. 1 | N/A |
| Median home value | $191,950[1] | No. 45 | -$169,592.35 |
| Home affordability ratio | 3.4 | No. 59 | -0.8 |
| Home value five-year change | 23.6%[2] | No. 35 | -10.6% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -1.2%[3] | No. 1 | -1.6% |
| Rental costs | $1,023[4] | No. 6 | -$749 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.84% | No. 52 | -0.3% |
| Median household income | $55,697[5] | No. 221 | -$28,988 |
| Property taxes | $1,263[6] | No. 31 | -$1,474 |
| Energy costs | $0.15 kWh[7] | No. 228 | $0.01 |
Dublin's 31021 zip code is the cheapest place to live in Georgia, leading the 285 markets we evaluated.
The median home value is $191,950, making it the 45th-cheapest housing market in the state. Forecasts project a -1.2% change in home values in the next year. Rent in the zip code averages $1,023 per month, which is the 52nd cheapest amount in Georgia.
The median property tax for homeowners in Dublin is $1,263 per household, the No. 31 ranked market in Georgia.
Residents pay $0.15 per kWh of electricity, which ranks No. 228 among Georgia markets.
2. Macon
The 31220 zip code is the 2nd-cheapest place to live in Georgia.
🔎 Key data about Macon
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 285 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 94.2 | No. 2 | N/A |
| Median home value | $246,708[8] | No. 86 | -$114,834.33 |
| Home affordability ratio | 2.8 | No. 10 | -1.5 |
| Home value five-year change | 40.3%[9] | No. 207 | 6.1% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.8%[10] | No. 194 | 0.4% |
| Rental costs | $1,330[11] | No. 27 | -$442 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.50% | No. 18 | -0.6% |
| Median household income | $88,434[12] | No. 92 | $3,749 |
| Property taxes | $2,285[13] | No. 149 | -$452 |
| Energy costs | $0.15 kWh[14] | No. 199 | $0.01 |
Macon's 31220 zip code has a median home value of $246,708, which is the 194th-cheapest housing market in Georgia. You can rent for an average of $1,330 per month. That's the 27th-cheapest price in the state.
The average household income in the zip code is $88,434, which ranks 92nd-highest in the state.
Homeowners in Macon pay a median property tax of $2,285 per year, making it the 149th-most affordable market in Georgia.
Macon ranks No. 199 among Georgia energy markets. You'll pay $0.15 per kWh of electricity.
3. Albany
The 3rd-cheapest place to live in Georgia is Albany's 31701 zip code.
🔎 Key data about Albany
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 285 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 94.1 | No. 3 | N/A |
| Median home value | $77,657[15] | No. 4 | -$283,885.47 |
| Home affordability ratio | 2.2 | No. 3 | -2.1 |
| Home value five-year change | 19.0%[16] | No. 20 | -15.2% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 1.3%[17] | No. 238 | 0.9% |
| Rental costs | $810[18] | No. 1 | -$962 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.31% | No. 199 | 0.2% |
| Median household income | $35,025[19] | No. 282 | -$49,660 |
| Property taxes | $1,361[20] | No. 45 | -$1,376 |
| Energy costs | $0.15 kWh[21] | No. 205 | $0.01 |
The No. 4 cheapest housing market in Georgia is Albany's 31701 zip code, with a median home value of $77,657. Rents in the market average $810 per month, making it the 1st-most affordable rental market in the state.
The median property tax for households in Albany is $1,361, which makes it the 45th-cheapest place in Georgia. Albany ranks No. 205 among Georgia markets by energy costs. Residents pay $0.15 per kWh of electricity.
4. Bremen
The 30110 zip code in Bremen comes in at No. 4 on our list of the cheapest places to live in Georgia.
🔎 Key data about Bremen
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 285 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 92.8 | No. 4 | N/A |
| Median home value | $288,205[22] | No. 124 | -$73,337.53 |
| Home affordability ratio | 3.4 | No. 52 | -0.9 |
| Home value five-year change | 40.0%[23] | No. 205 | 5.8% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -0.1%[24] | No. 9 | -0.5% |
| Rental costs | $1,221[25] | No. 16 | -$551 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.44% | No. 12 | -0.7% |
| Median household income | $85,036[26] | No. 101 | $351 |
| Property taxes | $1,908[27] | No. 105 | -$829 |
| Energy costs | $0.14 kWh[28] | No. 174 | $0.00 |
The No. 124 cheapest housing market in Georgia is Bremen's 30110 zip code, where the median home value is $288,205. Renters here pay an average of $1,221 per month.
When it comes to energy costs, Bremen ranks 174th among Georgia markets. Residents pay $0.14 per kWh of electricity.
The median property tax for households in the zip code is $1,908, which makes it the 105th-cheapest market in Georgia.
5. East Point
The 30344 zip code in East Point ranks No. 5 among Georgia's most affordable places to live.
🔎 Key data about East Point
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 285 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 92.7 | No. 5 | N/A |
| Median home value | $224,685[29] | No. 63 | -$136,857.34 |
| Home affordability ratio | 3.3 | No. 38 | -1.0 |
| Home value five-year change | 11.0%[30] | No. 8 | -23.2% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -0.1%[31] | No. 9 | -0.5% |
| Rental costs | $1,495[32] | No. 46 | -$276 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.19% | No. 183 | 0.1% |
| Median household income | $68,380[33] | No. 172 | -$16,305 |
| Property taxes | $1,698[34] | No. 84 | -$1,039 |
| Energy costs | $0.13 kWh[35] | No. 59 | -$0.01 |
East Point's 30344 zip code has a median home value of $224,685, the 63rd-cheapest market in the state. Forecasts project a -0.1% change in home values in the next year.
The median property tax per household in East Point is $1,698. It's the 84th-cheapest market by tax rate in Georgia.
6. Cordele
The No. 6 most affordable place to live in Georgia is the 31015 zip code.
🔎 Key data about Cordele
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 285 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 92.3 | No. 6 | N/A |
| Median home value | $134,969[36] | No. 13 | -$226,572.80 |
| Home affordability ratio | 3.0 | No. 22 | -1.2 |
| Home value five-year change | 24.8%[37] | No. 40 | -9.4% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -0.9%[38] | No. 2 | -1.3% |
| Rental costs | $1,772[39] | No. 118 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.09% | No. 96 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | $44,452[40] | No. 269 | -$40,233 |
| Property taxes | $1,581[41] | No. 66 | -$1,156 |
| Energy costs | $0.15 kWh[42] | No. 216 | $0.01 |
The back half of our top 10 kicks off with Cordele's 31015 zip code, which has the 13th-cheapest home values in Georgia. The median home value is $134,969. Rents average $1,772 per month, making it the 118th-most affordable rental market in the state.
Residents pay $0.15 per kWh of electricity. It's the 216th-cheapest energy market.
7. Eastman
Eastman's 31023 zip code is the 7th-cheapest place to live in Georgia.
🔎 Key data about Eastman
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 285 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 92.0 | No. 7 | N/A |
| Median home value | $153,059[43] | No. 21 | -$208,483.44 |
| Home affordability ratio | 2.9 | No. 17 | -1.3 |
| Home value five-year change | 20.2%[44] | No. 23 | -14.0% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.4%[45] | No. 159 | 0.0% |
| Rental costs | $1,772[46] | No. 118 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.09% | No. 96 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | $52,021[47] | No. 245 | -$32,664 |
| Property taxes | $1,135[48] | No. 20 | -$1,602 |
| Energy costs | $0.15 kWh[49] | No. 229 | $0.01 |
You'll find the 21st-cheapest home values in Georgia in Eastman's 31023 zip code. The median value: $153,059. Renters in Eastman pay an average of $1,772 per month.
Homeowners in Eastman pay a median property tax of $1,135 per year, which is Georgia's 20th-most affordable market.
The average household income is $52,021, which ranks 245th-highest in the state.
8. Columbus
The 8th-cheapest place to live in Georgia is Columbus's 31906 zip code.
🔎 Key data about Columbus
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 285 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 91.6 | No. 8 | N/A |
| Median home value | $129,784[50] | No. 10 | -$231,757.84 |
| Home affordability ratio | 2.9 | No. 15 | -1.4 |
| Home value five-year change | 30.4%[51] | No. 77 | -3.8% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.9%[52] | No. 203 | 0.5% |
| Rental costs | $892[53] | No. 2 | -$880 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.98% | No. 74 | -0.1% |
| Median household income | $44,965[54] | No. 267 | -$39,720 |
| Property taxes | $1,841[55] | No. 99 | -$896 |
| Energy costs | $0.15 kWh[56] | No. 229 | $0.01 |
The 10th-cheapest housing market in Georgia is Columbus's 31906 zip code, with a median home value of $129,784. Renters pay an average of $892 per month, the No. 2 rental market in the state.
The median property tax for households in Columbus is $1,841, which makes it the 99th-cheapest place in Georgia. The average household income of $44,965 ranks 267th.
9. Moultrie
Moultrie's 31768 zip code sneaks into the top ten of Georgia's most affordable places to live.
🔎 Key data about Moultrie
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 285 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 90.3 | No. 9 | N/A |
| Median home value | $150,123[57] | No. 20 | -$211,419.46 |
| Home affordability ratio | 3.2 | No. 32 | -1.1 |
| Home value five-year change | 27.5%[58] | No. 51 | -6.8% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -0.5%[59] | No. 5 | -0.9% |
| Rental costs | $1,772[60] | No. 118 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.09% | No. 96 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | $46,858[61] | No. 260 | -$37,827 |
| Property taxes | $974[62] | No. 8 | -$1,763 |
| Energy costs | $0.15 kWh[63] | No. 183 | $0.00 |
The 20th-cheapest housing market in Georgia is Moultrie's 31768 zip code, where the median home value is $150,123. Renters pay an average of $1,772 per month. It's the state's 118th-cheapest rental market.
The median property tax for households within the zip code is $974, which makes it the 8th-cheapest property tax rate in Georgia.
10. Cairo
The final spot on our list of the most affordable places to live in Georgia goes to the 39828 zip code in Cairo.
🔎 Key data about Cairo
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 285 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 89.6 | No. 10 | N/A |
| Median home value | $165,749[64] | No. 32 | -$195,793.25 |
| Home affordability ratio | 3.1 | No. 26 | -1.2 |
| Home value five-year change | 22.6%[65] | No. 32 | -11.7% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.4%[66] | No. 159 | 0.0% |
| Rental costs | $1,772[67] | No. 118 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.09% | No. 96 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | $53,901[68] | No. 232 | -$30,784 |
| Property taxes | $1,385[69] | No. 47 | -$1,352 |
| Energy costs | $0.15 kWh[70] | No. 208 | $0.01 |
The 32nd-most affordable market in Georgia is Cairo's 39828 zip code. The median home value is $165,749. Rent in the market costs $1,772 per month on average, making it the 118th-most affordable rental market in Georgia.
The median property tax for households in Cairo is $1,385, which is the 47th-cheapest property tax rate in the state.
Cairo ranks No. 208 among Georgia markets by energy costs, with households paying $0.15 per kWh of electricity.
How we ranked the most affordable places in Georgia
We evaluated 285 zip codes in Georgia with a population over 10,000 on nine metrics. We then assigned each market an Affordability Score based on its weighted and combined rankings.
Our proprietary Affordability Score is a score on a scale of 0 (worst in state) to 100 (best in state) that estimates the affordability of a particular zip code. It takes into account these key data points for each zip code.
- Median home value: The median home value for each zip code comes from the Zillow Home Value Index. The lower the median home value relative to the median value in Georgia, the higher our score on this component. We assign a weight of 13.0% to median home value.
- Home affordability ratio. The home affordability ratio is the typical median home value divided by the median household income in the zip code, which reveals the number of years of household income needed to afford a home in that zip code. A lower ratio is better because it means more households can afford a home. The data comes from the Zillow Observed Rent Index and the U.S. Census American Community Survey. We assign a weight of 28.0% to the home affordability ratio.
- Home value five-year change: The home value five-year change is the amount that the median home value in the zip code has risen or fallen during the last five years. Our data comes from the Zillow Home Value Index. We assign a weight of 10.0% to the home value five-year change.
- Home value one-year forecast: The home value one-year forecast comes from Zillow Forecast data. It projects how much home values in the zip code are forecasted to change in the next year. We assign a weight of 8.0% to the home value one-year forecast.
- Rental costs. The rental costs are the observed rents in the zip code, sourced from the Zillow Observed Rent Index. The index includes "listed rents that fall into the 40th to 60th percentile range for all homes and apartments in a given region." We assign a weight of 7.0% to rental costs.
- Median household income: The inflation-adjusted median household income figures for the zip code comes from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. We assign a weight of 5.0% to median household income.
- Rent affordability ratio. The rent affordability ratio is the ratio of rental costs divided by median household income, which provides the percentage of household income needed to pay a typical month’s rent in the zip code. The data comes from the Zillow Observed Rent Index and the U.S. Census American Community Survey. We assign a weight of 17.0% to the rent affordability ratio.
- Property taxes: The property tax figures are the median real estate taxes paid in the zip code, sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. The lower the property tax rate relative to the Georgia average, the higher our score on this component. We assign a weight of 8.0% to property taxes.
- Energy costs: The energy costs are the costs of a kilowatt hour (kWh) of residential electricity in the zip code, sourced from the U.S. Department of Energy. The lower the cost of electricity relative to the Georgia average, the higher our score on this component. We assign a weight of 4.0% to energy costs.
✍️ Editor’s note: Our Affordability Score identifies the most affordable places in a state by zip code. Often the zip code we identify will represent an entire city or portion of a city.
Occasionally the zip code we identify will encompass an area that includes one or more small towns. In these cases, the data we’ve gathered applies to the entire zip code, not just the single town we’re using to help identify the zip code's location.
If you’re looking to move to one of these affordable places, we recommend doing additional research to make sure the costs in the area — and the quality of life it offers — meet your specific needs.
