Rent vs buy in Johns Creek, GA
Georgia numbers for Johns Creek, Georgia: typical rent $2,492 /mo, typical home $689,664.
Over 7 years, renting comes out $107k ahead
The numbers here use Johns Creek's typical rent and typical home value, plus a 20% down payment and today's mortgage rate. No break-even point within 30 years.
Clearly labelled opinion, with the math shown. Estimates, not quotes. Adjust any figure and the stamp updates.
- Ahead with renting
- $107k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- 30 years or more owning never catches up sooner
- What owning really costs
- $5,916 per month year 1, against $2,492 rent
Change my numbers
The stamp takes the typical rent for Johns Creek's market along with the typical home value there. Change your rent, price or years and the result can flip.
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Is renting or buying cheaper in Johns Creek?
Across 7 years renting costs $107,423 less, counting the money you get back when you sell. In every year shown, renting's net cost runs below owning's, and owning still doesn't catch up inside 30 years.
Rent. Own. Net cost to date, by year.
Johns Creek's average rent against its mortgage payment
The rent and the mortgage leave out other costs, so here is the full monthly list for year 1, using Johns Creek's typical price.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $2,492 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $3,760 | $3,314 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $460 | 0.8% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $159 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $575 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $4,954 | $446 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $1,121 | What your cash would earn each year at 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $287 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $5,916 | Cash out, minus the equity portion, plus the two lines listed above |
The figures behind the Johns Creek verdict
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $689,664
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $2,492 /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, Johns Creek
- 0.8% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Johns Creek
- $159 /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 change the Johns Creek verdict?
Every line marks where the 7-year verdict flips in Johns Creek, with everything else held as it is.
When renting wins
- Home prices grow by less than 6.2% a year. We apply 4.4% for that, Georgia's long-run rate.
- The rate on a mortgage stays above 4.45%.
- Homes like this one rent below $3,640 a month; the typical rent here is $2,492.
- At any time in the next 30 years, owning still doesn't catch up at these numbers if you move.
When buying wins
- Home prices climb by more than 6.2% each year.
- You lock in a mortgage rate under 4.45% (today's is 7.24%).
- That same home would cost you over $3,640 a month to rent.
How Johns Creek compares with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Johns Creek | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $689,664 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $2,492 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 23.1 (#204 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 5.9% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 2.6% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.80% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 20% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
Georgia's other cities
- Rent. Atlanta, GA. Renting comes out ahead by $13k.
- Buy. Columbus, GA. Buying comes out ahead by $31k.
- Buy. Augusta, GA. Buying comes out ahead by $27k.
- Buy. Macon, GA. Buying comes out ahead by $19k.
- Toss-up. Savannah, GA. Too close to call, and renting is $1k ahead.
- Rent. Athens, GA. Renting comes out $5k ahead.
- Rent. Sandy Springs, GA. Renting comes out ahead by $184k.
- Rent. Roswell, GA. Renting comes out ahead by $159k.
- Buy. Warner Robins, GA. Buying comes out ahead by $21k.
- Buy. Mableton, GA. Buying comes out ahead by $7k.
- Rent. Alpharetta, GA. Renting comes out ahead by $154k.
- Buy. Albany, GA. Buying comes out $15k ahead.