Rent vs buy in Mableton, GA
In Georgia, the typical rent in Mableton, Georgia is $1,900 /mo and the typical home is $349,563.
Over 7 years, buying wins by $7k
Today's mortgage rate and 20% down, with Mableton's typical home value and rent. The break-even point is year 7.
An opinion, clearly labelled, with the math shown. These are estimates, not quotes. Adjust any number and the stamp updates.
- Owning is ahead by
- $7k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- Year 7 when owning catches up
- What owning really costs
- $2,985 /mo year 1, against $1,900 rent
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Is renting or buying cheaper in Mableton?
Counting the money that comes back to you when you sell, buying is cheaper by $6,673 over 7 years. In year 7, owning's net cost falls below renting's and stays there.
Renting. Owning. Net cost by year so far.
Mableton's average rent compared with the mortgage payment
Rent and mortgage payments don't tell the whole story. Here are all monthly costs in year 1, using Mableton's typical price.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,900 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $1,906 | $1,680 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $186 | 0.64% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $114 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $291 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $2,498 | $226 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $568 | At 8.3% a year, this is what the cash would earn. |
| Buying costs, spread out | $146 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $2,985 | Cash out, subtract the equity portion, then add the two lines above. |
Mableton's verdict in numbers
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $349,563
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $1,900 /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, Mableton
- 0.64% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Mableton
- $114 /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 flip the Mableton verdict?
Each line shows where the 7-year verdict for Mableton flips, holding everything else as it is.
Renting wins if
- Home prices rise by less than 4.2% a year (our rate is Georgia's long-run rate, 4.4%).
- The mortgage rate holds above 7.58%.
- A similar home costs under $1,830 a month to rent (typical here: $1,900).
- Before year 7, you move.
Buying wins if
- Home prices rise faster than 4.2% a year.
- Today's rate is 7.24%, and you lock one below 7.58%.
- The same home would cost over $1,830 a month to rent.
- You remain 7 years or more.
How Mableton compares to the other 812 cities
| Measure | Mableton | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $349,563 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,900 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 15.3 (#608 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 6.6% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 4.5% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.64% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 35% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More cities in Georgia
- 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. Renting leads by $1k, too close to call.
- Rent. Athens, GA. Renting is ahead by $5k.
- Rent wins here: Sandy Springs, GA. Renting is ahead by $184k.
- Rent. Roswell, GA. renting comes out ahead by $159k.
- Buy. Warner Robins, GA. buying comes out ahead by $21k.
- Rent. Johns Creek, GA. renting comes out ahead by $107k.
- Rent. Alpharetta, GA. renting comes out ahead by $154k.
- Buy. Albany, GA. Buying leads by $15k.