Cost of Living in Augusta, GA: Census Numbers and Housing Costs

People ask whether Augusta is “cheap” or “affordable.” Those words only help when they are tied to dated public numbers — not a mystery cost-of-living index from an undated aggregator.

This page uses U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts / ACS 2020–2024 for Augusta-Richmond County (consolidated government balance) and a dated Redfin look at recent Augusta-Richmond sale prices. We keep those measures separate on purpose: ACS owner-reported home value is not the same as a recent median sale price.

North Augusta House Guys / CSRA House Guys buys houses as-is for cash across the CSRA (office in North Augusta, SC). We’re not a cost-of-living agency. We use public sources you can check yourself. If selling becomes the real decision, we can help.

Office: 400 West Ave., Suite 1, North Augusta, SC 29841 · 803-471-4870

Augusta at a glance (Census)

According to U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Augusta-Richmond County consolidated government (balance), Georgia:

Population estimate: 201,999 (July 1, 2025)
Change since the 2020 estimates base: 0.0%
2020 Census population: 202,081
Median household income: $55,485 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars)
Per capita income: $31,910 (ACS 2020–2024)
Median value of owner-occupied housing units: $178,400 (ACS 2020–2024)
Owner-occupied housing unit rate: 50.8% (ACS 2020–2024)
Median selected monthly owner costs — with a mortgage: $1,382 (ACS 2020–2024)
Median selected monthly owner costs — without a mortgage: $488 (ACS 2020–2024)
Median gross rent: $1,142 (ACS 2020–2024)
Mean travel time to work: 21.1 minutes (ACS 2020–2024)
Persons in poverty: 20.1%
Veterans (ACS 2020–2024): 16,593

What that means in plain English: Housing and owner costs in Augusta’s consolidated city/county balance sit well below the national ACS medians in this vintage — while household income and poverty figures show a mixed affordability picture (lower housing costs do not erase budget pressure for every household). Commute times are shorter than the U.S. ACS mean in the same vintage.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts — Augusta-Richmond County (balance), GA. QuickFacts updates periodically.

Comparison table (same ACS vintage)

Place	Population (Jul 1, 2025)	Median owner-occupied value (ACS 2020–2024)	Median gross rent	Median household income	Owner costs w/ mortgage	Mean commute
Augusta-Richmond (balance), GA	201,999	$178,400	$1,142	$55,485	$1,382	21.1 min
Atlanta city, GA	529,110	$439,600	$1,711	$85,652	$2,423	26.5 min
Charlotte city, NC	964,784	$385,700	$1,612	$82,068	$1,821	24.7 min
United States	341,784,857	$332,700	$1,413	$80,734	$1,963	26.4 min

Sources: Census QuickFacts for Augusta-Richmond (balance), Atlanta city, Charlotte city, and the United States.

Reading tip: Augusta’s ACS median owner value and owner costs with a mortgage are substantially lower than Atlanta and Charlotte in this vintage — and also below the U.S. ACS medians. That is housing-cost context, not a promise that every ZIP or neighborhood is equally affordable.

Housing market context (Redfin — dated; not an ACS value)

Third-party market tracker — not an appraisal and not a North Augusta House Guys offer.

Per Redfin’s Augusta-Richmond County housing market page (data covering the three months ending August 2026):

Median sale price over the last three months: about $215,000 (Redfin reports $214,858), down 2.3% year over year
Median sale price per square foot: about $125 (down about 9.4% YoY, per Redfin)
Homes typically sold after about 53 days on market in the recent period shown
Homes sold in August 2026: 568
Sale-to-list price ratio: about 97.0%
Redfin describes the market as somewhat competitive

Keep measures separate: Census ACS median owner-reported value ($178,400) ≠ Redfin recent median sale price (~$215K). Different definitions, different samples, different uses.

Source: Redfin — Augusta-Richmond County housing market. Redfin updates these numbers monthly, so check the live Redfin page for the latest month.

Everyday cost framing (what Census supports — and what we won’t invent)

Supported by Census (this page): income, poverty rate, owner costs, rent, and commute time for Augusta-Richmond (balance).

We are not republishing undated grocery totals, doctor-visit stickers, gas prices, or a BestPlaces-style composite index. Those figures go stale quickly and are hard to defend in AI Overviews / PAA answers. If you need a line-item budget for a move, use current local quotes (utilities, insurance, childcare) for your household — not a blog’s old averages.

Military context still matters for many CSRA households: Fort Eisenhower (formerly Fort Gordon) and related veterans presence (Census lists 16,593 veterans for Augusta-Richmond ACS 2020–2024) are part of why housing demand and PCS timing show up in seller conversations — without inventing BAH math here.

When “affordable to live here” becomes “expensive to keep the house”

Affordability cuts both ways. A lower ACS owner-cost baseline helps many households — but carrying costs still add up when a house is vacant, needs major repairs, is tied up in divorce or probate, or sits through a long retail listing.

Public seller-cost context for a traditional sale: Realtor.com notes sellers often pay on the order of 6% to 10% of the sale price in closing costs at settlement (range varies by location and deal terms; commissions are often the largest piece when agents are involved). Add months of mortgage, taxes, insurance, and utilities while a listing runs, and the “higher list price” path can lose to a simpler as-is cash net.

Source: Realtor.com — Closing Costs Every Home Seller Should Expect. Educational range — not a quote for your specific house.

If carrying costs, repairs, or timing dominate, compare:

Offers from North Augusta House Guys are no-obligation. We typically don’t charge realtor commissions to you when you sell to us. Closing timing depends on title and the date you choose — we won’t invent a one-size day count here.

FAQ

Is Augusta, GA more affordable than Atlanta?
On Census ACS 2020–2024 housing measures for these geographies, yes on several big line items: Augusta-Richmond (balance) median owner-occupied value is $178,400 vs Atlanta city $439,600; median gross rent $1,142 vs $1,711; median owner costs with a mortgage $1,382 vs $2,423. Income and poverty figures differ too — affordability is not only housing. Re-check QuickFacts before relying on the numbers.

What is the median home value in Augusta?
Census ACS 2020–2024 reports a median value of owner-occupied housing units of $178,400 for Augusta-Richmond County (balance). That is an owner-reported ACS value, not the same as a recent median sale price. Redfin’s Augusta-Richmond market page (three months ending August 2026) shows a recent median sale price around $215,000 ($214,858) — a different measure.

How long do homes take to sell in Augusta / Richmond County?
As of Redfin’s Augusta-Richmond data for the three months ending August 2026, homes sold after a median of about 53 days on market in the period shown. Traditional listings can take longer with repairs, showings, or financing delays. Always re-check the live Redfin page.

Is Augusta affordable for families and military households?
Many households find housing costs lower than larger Southern metros on ACS measures above — and the area has a large veteran population (16,593 in ACS 2020–2024 for Augusta-Richmond balance). Family budgets still depend on income, childcare, transportation, and neighborhood. Use the Census table as a starting point, not a personal budget.

What if I own a house here and carrying costs are the real problem?
If vacancy, repairs, divorce, probate, or a deadline make a retail listing expensive to run, an as-is cash sale is one option to compare on net and timing. Start with sell my house fast in Augusta, GA or call 803-471-4870. Not legal or tax advice.

Where is your office?
400 West Ave., Suite 1, North Augusta, South Carolina 29841. Phone: 803-471-4870. We serve Augusta / CSRA from a North Augusta, SC base.

Thinking about selling?

Curious how Augusta’s housing costs stack up for your situation — or weighing whether to keep paying carrying costs on a house you no longer want? Call 803-471-4870 or share your address for a no-obligation conversation. We’ll walk through numbers and timing — you decide.

North Augusta House Guys
400 West Ave., Suite 1
North Augusta, SC 29841
803-471-4870
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