Rent vs buy in Dunwoody, GA
In Dunwoody, Georgia, the typical rent is $1,754 /mo and the typical home value is $667,282.
Renting comes out $170k ahead over 7 years
The figures use Dunwoody's typical rent and home value, plus 20% down and today's mortgage rate. No break-even occurs within 30 years.
Clearly labeled opinion with the math shown. These are estimates, not quotes. The stamp changes when you change a number.
- How far renting is ahead
- $170k after 7 years
- Point where costs match
- 30+ years owning never catches up sooner
- Actual cost of owning
- $5,776 each month year 1, against $1,754 rent
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Dunwoody's typical rent and typical home value are what the stamp uses. You can change the result with your rent, price and years.
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In Dunwoody, is renting or buying cheaper?
If you include the money you get back when you sell, renting costs $170,407 less over 7 years. In every year shown, renting's net cost remains below owning's, and owning never closes the gap within 30 years.
Renting wins. Cost of owning. Net cost so far for each year.
Dunwoody's average rent compared with mortgage payments
Year 1 at Dunwoody's typical price has monthly costs beyond rent and the mortgage, so here they all are.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,754 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $3,638 | $3,207 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $506 | 0.91% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $145 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $556 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $4,845 | $431 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $1,085 | At 8.3% a year, this is what the cash would earn. |
| Buying costs, spread out | $278 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $5,776 | Cash paid out, minus the equity portion, plus the two lines above |
The figures behind Dunwoody's verdict
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $667,282
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $1,754 /mo
- Down payment20% avoids private mortgage insurance, which the engine does not model
- 20%
- Mortgage rateFreddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US)
- 7.24%
- Home price growthFHFA house price index, Georgia, 1995 to 2025
- 4.4% a year
- Rent growthCPI rent of primary residence, yearly growth 2006 to 2026
- 3.5% a year
- Return on savings60% S&P 500 with dividends and 40% 10-year Treasuries, rebalanced yearly, 1928 to 2025
- 8.3% a year
- Property taxCensus ACS 2020-2024, Dunwoody
- 0.91% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Dunwoody
- $145 /mo
- MaintenanceFannie Mae, low end of 1% to 4%
- 1% of value a year
- Buying costsFreddie Mac, middle of 2% to 5%
- 3.5% of price
- Selling costsAgent commission plus closing costs
- 6% of price
What would reverse the result in Dunwoody?
Holding everything else unchanged, each line shows where Dunwoody's 7-year verdict changes.
When renting wins
- Home prices grow at less than 7.3% a year; the figure we use comes from Georgia's long-run rate of 4.4%.
- The mortgage rate remains higher than 2.61%.
- A comparable home rents for under $3,580 a month (the typical rent here is $1,754).
- Any time you move during the next 30 years, owning still doesn't catch up at these numbers.
When buying wins
- Home prices grow by over 7.3% each year.
- You secure a mortgage rate under 2.61% (today's is 7.24%).
- The same home would cost more than $3,580 a month to rent.
How Dunwoody compares with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Dunwoody | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $667,282 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,754 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 31.7 (#54 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 5.1% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | -0.2% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.91% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 44% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More cities in Georgia
- In Atlanta, GA, renting wins by $13k.
- Buying wins in Columbus, GA by $31k.
- Buying wins in Augusta, GA by $27k.
- Buying wins in Macon, GA by $19k.
- It's a toss-up in Savannah, GA, with renting ahead by $1k.
- In Athens, GA, renting wins by $5k.
- In Sandy Springs, GA, renting wins by $184k.
- In Roswell, GA, renting wins by $159k.
- Buying wins in Warner Robins, GA by $21k.
- In Johns Creek, GA, renting wins by $107k.
- Buying wins in Mableton, GA by $7k.
- In Alpharetta, GA, renting wins by $154k.