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City · 13,905 residents · Chatham County, Georgia

Wilmington Island , Georgia

In Wilmington Island, a typical home is worth $404,900 and typical rent is $1,752 a month. Compared with all of Chatham County, the typical home value is 34% higher, typical household income is 32% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 20 points higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $404,900

    34% above the county

    33% above Georgia

    • Wilmington Island
    • Chatham
    • Georgia

  • Typical rent

    $1,752a month

    19% above the county

    26% above Georgia

    • Wilmington Island
    • Chatham
    • Georgia

  • Typical household income

    $93,924a year

    32% above the county

    21% above Georgia

    • Wilmington Island
    • Chatham
    • Georgia

  • Households that own their home

    77%

    20 points above the county

    11 points above Georgia

    • Wilmington Island
    • Chatham
    • Georgia

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

Wilmington Island is in Chatham 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 Chatham County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Wilmington Island apart

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

  1. Nearby, in Garden City, the typical home value is $169,400: 58% less than in Wilmington Island ($404,900).

  2. 77% of households in Wilmington Island own their home, against 57% in Chatham County.

  3. The typical home in Wilmington Island is worth $404,900, 34% more than in Chatham County as a whole ($302,700).

  4. The typical household income in Wilmington Island is $93,924, 32% more than in Chatham County as a whole ($71,097).

  5. Nearby, in Garden City, the typical rent is $1,282: 27% less than in Wilmington Island ($1,752).

  6. The typical rent in Wilmington Island is $1,752 a month, 19% more than in Chatham County as a whole ($1,471).

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

The homes here

Housing in Wilmington Island

What homes there are in Wilmington Island, 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

The detached house rules in Wilmington Island: 69% of homes, more than in Chatham County (62%).

Year built

By age, homes in Wilmington Island look like those in Chatham County: the typical year built is 1984.

Homes in Wilmington Island are bigger: 71% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Chatham County, 63%.

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

$1,968 a month

Chatham County: $1,758 a month

Without a mortgage

$662 a month

Chatham County: $628 a month

Owners with a mortgage

66%

Chatham County: 64%

Owning costs more in Wilmington Island: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,968 a month; in Chatham County, $1,758. Without one, $662.

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

The typical home value in Wilmington Island rose 54% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Chatham County (56%).

Rents in Wilmington Island rose faster than in Chatham County: 39% since 2015–2019, against 36%.

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

MeasureWilmington IslandChatham CountyGeorgiaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate6.2%6.8%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate1.8%1.1%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.7%2.4%3.4%
People per household 2.332.402.622.53
Drive alone 79%73%71%69%
Carpool 9%10%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate3%1%3%
Work from home 9%12%16%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate2%2%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

By size, households in Wilmington Island look like those in Chatham County: 2.33 people on average.

To get to work, 79% of workers in Wilmington Island drive alone; in Chatham County, 73%.

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 Wilmington Island?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Wilmington Island, worth $404,900, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 42% of the typical household income in Wilmington Island, which is $93,924 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $141,465 a year.

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

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Wilmington Island. 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 $14,172 (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

$3,301

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$397,566
Total interest
$572,004
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $6,838 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $2,192 a month

  • Tight

    $2,192 to $2,818 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,818 a month

    Your payment · 42%

Compared with the typical household income in Wilmington Island ($93,924 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$3,301
Principal & interest$2,693
Property tax$260
Home insurance$169
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$179

You need at least $14,172 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

Wilmington Island and Chatham County

Wilmington Island is in Chatham 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).

Wilmington Island's own numbers

Typical home value
$404,900
Typical monthly rent
$1,752
Typical yearly household income
$93,924
Households that own their home
77%
Effective property tax rate
0.77%

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

Numbers for all of Chatham County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,679
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+71%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
14%

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 Chatham County.

Everything about Chatham County

Buying

Buying a home in Wilmington Island

A typical home in Wilmington Island is worth $404,900: 34% above the county and 33% above Georgia. With the typical household income in Wilmington Island ($93,924 a year), a typical home costs 4.3 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.

  • Wilmington Island 4.3 years
  • Chatham 4.3 years
  • Georgia 3.9 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Chatham County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Chatham County rose 120% in the 10 years through 2025.

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

Period County Georgia U.S.
Last year (2025) +2.3% +2.2% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +71% +58% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +120% +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

Wilmington Island next to Chatham 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
  • Wilmington Island $404,900
  • Chatham $302,700
  • Georgia $303,300
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Wilmington Island $1,752
  • Chatham $1,471
  • Georgia $1,393
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Wilmington Island $93,924
  • Chatham $71,097
  • Georgia $77,353
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Wilmington Island next to Chatham County and Georgia
Measure Wilmington Island Chatham County Georgia U.S.
Typical home value $404,900 $302,700 $303,300 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,752 $1,471 $1,393 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $93,924 $71,097 $77,353 $80,734
Households that own their home 77% 57% 66% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $3,103 $2,541 $2,341 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.77% 0.84% 0.77% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 50% 54% 52% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Chatham 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 Wilmington Island

For a typical $404,900 home in Wilmington Island, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Wilmington Island's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $3,301a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $14,172
    Cash to close
    $26,319
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $179

  • Conventional, 5% down $3,227a month

    Down payment
    $20,245
    Cash to close
    $32,392
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $192

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,623a month

    Down payment
    $80,980
    Cash to close
    $93,127
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,997a month

    Down payment
    $60,735
    Cash to close
    $72,882
    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 Wilmington Island and for Chatham County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Wilmington Island

0.77%of the home’s value each year

$3,103 a year for the typical owner in Wilmington Island.

  • Wilmington Island 0.77%
  • Chatham 0.84%
  • Georgia 0.77%

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

Exemptions and deadlines in Georgia

Flood risk in Chatham County

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

Homes in the high-risk zone
14%
12,957
Of those, with NFIP insurance
81%
County Georgia U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 14% 2% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 81% 43% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Wilmington Island

Typical rent in Wilmington Island is $1,752 a month: 19% above the county. In Wilmington Island, 50% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Chatham County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,679 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $32.29 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Chatham 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 $1,481 $28.48 $59,240
1 bedroom $1,542 $29.65 $61,680
2 bedrooms $1,679 $32.29 $67,160
3 bedrooms $2,185 $42.02 $87,400
4 bedrooms $2,484 $47.77 $99,360

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 Wilmington Island

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Wilmington Island is in ZIP code 31410.

For 2 bedrooms it is $2,050: $371 more than the fair market rent for Chatham County ($1,679).

  • 31410 $2,050$2,670

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Wilmington Island 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?

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Wilmington Island

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.

There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Chatham County; 1 says it serves in Spanish.

A pregnant woman reads paperwork on the sofa while the grandmother plays with the girl on the floor.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Wilmington Island

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Wilmington Island or Chatham County. The ones below are statewide in Georgia: they work in Wilmington Island 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 Wilmington Island

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

  • Credit.org - Savannah, GA Branch

    100 Bull St, Savannah · 9 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 4 more
    (800) 431-8157

  • Jcvision and Associates, Inc

    135 E Ml King Jr Dr, Hinesville · 38 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 9 more
    (912) 877-4243

  • CCCS of the Savannah Area, Inc. - Statesboro Branch

    515 Denmark Street Suite 700, Statesboro · 57 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 4 more
    (912) 691-2227

Every agency in Chatham County All counseling agencies in Georgia

Help in Spanish near Wilmington Island

2 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 Wilmington Island

In HUD’s record, no housing authority with an office in Chatham County is named for Wilmington Island or Chatham County.

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

Cities

Other cities in Chatham County

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

Everything about Chatham County Housing in Georgia

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Wilmington Island, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Chatham 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 Wilmington Island.

All guides
A mother holding her baby watches her daughter blow bubbles outdoors.

Questions

Housing questions about Wilmington Island

Short answers with the numbers for Wilmington Island and all of Chatham 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 Wilmington Island?

The typical home value in Wilmington Island is $404,900, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Chatham County it is $302,700.

How much does it cost to rent in Wilmington Island?

Typical rent in Wilmington Island is $1,752 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Chatham County is $1,679.

What is the FHA loan limit in Wilmington Island?

Wilmington Island uses the FHA limit for all of Chatham 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 Wilmington Island?

The typical homeowner in Wilmington Island pays $3,103 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.77% of the home’s value; in Chatham County, the rate is 0.84%.

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

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Chatham County. 1 says it serves in Spanish. 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).