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City · 14,990 residents · Jackson County, Georgia

Jefferson , Georgia

In Jefferson, a typical home is worth $377,300 and typical rent is $1,074 a month. Compared with all of Jackson County, typical household income is 23% higher and the typical home value is 9% higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $377,300

    9% above the county

    24% above Georgia

    • Jefferson
    • Jackson
    • Georgia

  • Typical rent

    $1,074a month

    5% below the county

    23% below Georgia

    • Jefferson
    • Jackson
    • Georgia

  • Typical household income

    $109,828a year

    23% above the county

    42% above Georgia

    • Jefferson
    • Jackson
    • Georgia

  • Households that own their home

    80%

    About the same as the county

    14 points above Georgia

    • Jefferson
    • Jackson
    • Georgia

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$411,731
1.7% less than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,906 a month
2.4% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Jefferson is in Jackson County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Jackson County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Jefferson apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Commerce, the typical home value is $239,900: 36% less than in Jefferson ($377,300).

  2. The typical household income in Jefferson is $109,828, 23% more than in Jackson County as a whole ($89,544).

  3. Jefferson has the 15th smallest share of rent-burdened renters of the 157 cities in Georgia with more than 5,000 people (42%).

  4. Jefferson has the 17th highest homeownership rate of the 165 cities in Georgia with more than 5,000 people (80%).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Jefferson

What homes there are in Jefferson, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Detached houses, standing on their own, make up 86% of homes here, against 82% in Jackson County.

Year built

In Jefferson, half of the homes were built before 2005; in Jackson County, before 2002.

By size, homes in Jefferson look like those in Jackson County: 84% have 3 bedrooms or more.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,930 a month

Jackson County: $1,865 a month

Without a mortgage

$683 a month

Jackson County: $588 a month

Owners with a mortgage

80%

Jackson County: 67%

Owning costs about the same in Jefferson as in Jackson County: with a mortgage, $1,930 a month; without one, $683.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Since 2015–2019, homes in Jefferson gained value faster than in Jackson County: 87% against 82%.

Rents in Jefferson rose faster than in Jackson County: 47% since 2015–2019, against 37%.

While home values in Jefferson changed +87% and rent +47%, the typical household income rose 88%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureJeffersonJackson CountyGeorgiaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate6.8%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1.1%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate2.3%2.4%3.4%
People per household 3.242.962.622.53
Drive alone 77%77%71%69%
Carpool 8%8%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate1%1%3%
Work from home 14%12%16%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate2%2%2%
Typical commute 30 to 39 minutesUnreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Households in Jefferson are bigger: 3.24 people on average; in Jackson County, 2.96.

In Jefferson, 77% of workers drive alone to work; in Jackson County, 77%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Jefferson?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Jefferson, worth $377,300, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 34% of the typical household income in Jefferson, which is $109,828 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $133,978 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Jackson County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Jefferson. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $13,206 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$3,126

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$370,466
Total interest
$533,013
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $6,372 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $2,563 a month

  • Tight

    $2,563 to $3,295 a month

    Your payment · 34%

  • Hard

    more than $3,295 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Jefferson ($109,828 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$3,126
Principal & interest$2,510
Property tax$292
Home insurance$157
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$167

You need at least $13,206 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Jefferson and Jackson County

Jefferson is in Jackson County, Georgia. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Jefferson's own numbers

Typical home value
$377,300
Typical monthly rent
$1,074
Typical yearly household income
$109,828
Households that own their home
80%
Effective property tax rate
0.93%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Jackson County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,205
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+72%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.3%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Jackson County.

Everything about Jackson County

Buying

Buying a home in Jefferson

A typical home in Jefferson is worth $377,300: 9% above the county and 24% above Georgia. With the typical household income in Jefferson ($109,828 a year), a typical home costs 3.4 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Jefferson 3.4 years
  • Jackson 3.9 years
  • Georgia 3.9 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Jackson County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Jackson County rose 135% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Jackson County.

Period County Georgia U.S.
Last year (2025) +3.9% +2.2% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +72% +58% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +135% +110% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Jefferson next to Jackson County, Georgia and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Jefferson $377,300
  • Jackson $345,000
  • Georgia $303,300
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Jefferson $1,074
  • Jackson $1,126
  • Georgia $1,393
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Jefferson $109,828
  • Jackson $89,544
  • Georgia $77,353
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Jefferson next to Jackson County and Georgia
Measure Jefferson Jackson County Georgia U.S.
Typical home value $377,300 $345,000 $303,300 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,074 $1,126 $1,393 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $109,828 $89,544 $77,353 $80,734
Households that own their home 80% 79% 66% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $3,491 $3,000 $2,341 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.93% 0.87% 0.77% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 42% 41% 52% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Jackson County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Jefferson

For a typical $377,300 home in Jefferson, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Jefferson's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $3,126a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $13,206
    Cash to close
    $24,525
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $167

  • Conventional, 5% down $3,057a month

    Down payment
    $18,865
    Cash to close
    $30,184
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $179

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,494a month

    Down payment
    $75,460
    Cash to close
    $86,779
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,843a month

    Down payment
    $56,595
    Cash to close
    $67,914
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Jefferson and for Jackson County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Jefferson

0.93%of the home’s value each year

$3,491 a year for the typical owner in Jefferson.

  • Jefferson 0.93%
  • Jackson 0.87%
  • Georgia 0.77%

What Georgia publishes Standard state homestead exemption (Georgia Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Georgia

Flood risk in Jackson County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Jackson County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
0.3%
74
Of those, with NFIP insurance
16%
County Georgia U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 0.3% 2% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 16% 43% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Jefferson

Typical rent in Jefferson is $1,074 a month: 5% below the county. In Jefferson, 42% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Jackson County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,205 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $23.17 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Jackson County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $993 $19.10 $39,720
1 bedroom $1,041 $20.02 $41,640
2 bedrooms $1,205 $23.17 $48,200
3 bedrooms $1,438 $27.65 $57,520
4 bedrooms $2,014 $38.73 $80,560

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Jefferson

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Jefferson is in ZIP code 30549.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,280: $75 more than the fair market rent for Jackson County ($1,205).

  • 30549 $1,280$1,530

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Jefferson when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Jefferson

HUD lists 3 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Jefferson. These are the largest.

  • Pine ST Homes 146 Pine St, Jefferson 30549 90 low-income homes · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Jefferson · Average payment: $340 a month (706) 367-8311
  • Maple Square Apartments 50 Nelson Dr, Jefferson 30549 55 homes · In service since 2012
  • Hardin Terrace 346 Storey Ln, Jefferson 30549

See all 9 buildings in Jackson County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Jefferson

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Jackson County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A grandmother smiles, seated at home.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Jefferson

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Jefferson or Jackson County. The ones below are statewide in Georgia: they work in Jefferson the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Georgia

  • Georgia Dream Homeownership Program

    Statewide in Georgia

    Georgia state program for first-time buyers: a mortgage with down payment assistance of up to 5% of the price or $10,000, as a 0% second mortgage with no monthly payments. Offered by Georgia Department of Community Affairs.

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • Georgia Dream Peach Plus Loan Program

    Statewide in Georgia

    FHA or VA mortgage from the Georgia Dream program with down payment assistance of 3.5% of the price (up to $10,000), or 4% (up to $12,500) for police officers, educators, health care workers, military members or families with a person with a disability; no first-time buyer requirement. Offered by Georgia Department of Community Affairs.

    Type not stated

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Jefferson

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Jefferson, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Athens Land Trust, Inc

    685 N Pope St, Athens · 17 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 7 more
    (706) 613-0122

  • Hancock Community Development Corporation

    300 Henderson Ext, Athens · 17 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 5 more
    (877) 284-4326

  • The Homeowners Employment Corporation

    1500 Klondike Rd SW, Conyers · 41 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 5 more
    404-492-6554-503

All counseling agencies in Georgia

Help in Spanish near Jefferson

None of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Jefferson

HUD’s record names them for Jefferson or Jackson County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Housing Authority of the City of Jefferson Public housing (706) 367-8311

One other authority has an office in Jackson County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Jackson County

These cities are also in Jackson County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Jackson County Housing in Georgia

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Jefferson, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Jackson County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Jefferson.

All guides
Two girls write and draw together at the living-room table.

Questions

Housing questions about Jefferson

Short answers with the numbers for Jefferson and all of Jackson County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Jefferson?

The typical home value in Jefferson is $377,300, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Jackson County it is $345,000.

How much does it cost to rent in Jefferson?

Typical rent in Jefferson is $1,074 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Jackson County is $1,205.

What is the FHA loan limit in Jefferson?

Jefferson uses the FHA limit for all of Jackson County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Jefferson?

The typical homeowner in Jefferson pays $3,491 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.93% of the home’s value; in Jackson County, the rate is 0.87%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Jefferson?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Jackson County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).