Georgia · 92nd largest metro area

Buying a home in Augusta, Georgia

In Augusta, the median value of owner-occupied homes is $178,400, Richmond County's effective property tax rate is 0.84%, a purchase mortgage carried a median $6,389 in total loan costs in 2025, and median gross rent is $1,142 a month.

Data as of : Census ACS 2020-2024, Census Vintage 2024, HMDA 2025, HUD FY 2027. Sources

Augusta home costs, fact by fact

About Augusta

Augusta, Georgia, counts 201,737 residents in Census estimates. Owners occupy 50.8% of homes, and median gross rent is $1,142 per month.

Reading the Augusta figures

Start with the state picture. Georgia's median home value is $346,500, and Augusta's owners put theirs at $178,400, which sits close to Macon ($174,500) and Columbus ($193,900) but a long way under Atlanta ($439,600). Rent follows the same pattern, with Augusta at $1,142 a month, Columbus lower, Macon lower still and Atlanta at $1,711.

Ownership is split evenly with renting. At 50.8%, Augusta matches Columbus exactly and tops Atlanta (46.4%) and Savannah (45.4%), while South Fulton stands out at 71.5%. A renter weighing a purchase should note that HUD rates the Augusta area at $1,329 for a smaller unit, above the city's median rent, and at $1,672 for a larger one. Both are guides used for assisted housing, not market medians.

Richmond County's homes are valued at $178,500, almost identical to the city's. At a 0.84% effective rate, the county's typical annual property tax is $1,508, a modest line in a monthly budget.

Borrowing costs deserve a close look. Among 1,431 loans in the 2025 data, the usual charge was $6,389, with the central range running from $4,187 to $9,227. On a home priced near the Augusta median, fees in that range take a larger share of the price than the same fees would in Atlanta, so compare lender estimates line by line.

Calculate for Georgia

If you buy

Georgia state transfer tax

Real estate transfer tax (O.C.G.A. 48-6-1 to 48-6-10): $1 for the first $1,000 plus $0.10 for each additional $100 (about $1 per $1,000).

Price$346,500
State transfer taxnot computed
Who paysThe seller

Default price: the Georgia median value of owner-occupied homes, $346,500 (Census ACS 2025). Not computed: Tax = $1 for the first $1,000 (or fraction) + $0.10 for each additional $100 or fraction of $100. Example: $400,000 gives $1 + $0.10 x 3,990 = $400. Who pays: The seller is liable by law, though frequently the sales contract has the buyer pay (Georgia Department of Revenue). Not included: county and city transfer taxes, the tax on the mortgage, recording fees, title insurance and lender charges. Georgia transfer tax guide · all 50 states.

If you sell

Capital gain and the federal tax on it

Same federal rule in every state: Section 121 of the Internal Revenue Code excludes up to $250,000 of gain on a main home ($500,000 for a married couple filing jointly).

Capital gain$350,000
Section 121 exclusion$250,000 (limit $250,000)
Taxable gain$100,000
Type of gainLong-term (owned over 1 year), 15% chosen
Federal tax on the gain$15,000

Section 121 excludes $250,000; the rest is taxable.

Gain = sale price minus your adjusted basis (purchase price, buying costs and improvements); selling expenses reduce it (IRS Publication 523). Long-term rates for sales in 2026, by taxable income including the gain (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32, section 4.03): 0% up to $49,450 single or $98,900 married filing jointly, 15% up to $545,500 single or $613,700 jointly, 20% above. Not included: Georgia state income tax on the gain (not computed), the net investment income tax, depreciation recapture on a rental or home office, and the reduced exclusion for an early sale. Agent commissions are negotiated and never set by law. Capital gains on a home sale.

Questions about buying a home in Augusta

How much is property tax in Augusta?

Homeowners in Richmond County pay a median $1,508 a year in property tax, 0.84% of the county median home value of $178,500 (Census ACS 2020-2024). Your bill depends on your assessed value and local rates.

What are closing costs on a mortgage in Augusta?

Home-purchase mortgages in Richmond County carried median total loan costs of $6,389 in 2025; half of the 1,431 loans fell between $4,187 and $9,227 (HMDA). Total loan costs are the lender and settlement-service charges of the Closing Disclosure; transfer taxes and prepaid items come on top.

Is there a transfer tax when you buy a home in Augusta?

Georgia charges a real estate transfer tax of $1 for the first $1,000 of the sale price plus 10 cents for each additional $100, which is $400 on a $400,000 home. The seller is liable by law, though contracts often shift it to the buyer.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Augusta?

It depends on your mortgage rate, down payment and how long you stay. As a benchmark, the median value of owner-occupied homes in Augusta ($178,400) equals 13 years of the median gross rent ($1,142 a month), both from Census ACS 2020-2024.

Run your own numbers: rent vs buy calculator · closing costs calculator.

Georgia rules that apply in Augusta

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Sources

Georgia · All states · Federal guides