Richmond Hill & Bryan County Guide
Cost of Living in Richmond Hill & Bryan County
Incomes, home prices, rent, property tax, utilities and car costs, with the source and year next to every number.
At a glance
- Median household income
- $92,824 city, $103,408 county (Census ACS 2020-24)
- Typical home value
- $419,999 city, $399,664 county (Zillow, August 2026, private estimate)
- Median rent
- $1,781 city, $1,618 county (Census ACS 2020-24)
- Property tax rate, 2025
- 25.914 mills in the city, 21.933 mills in unincorporated Bryan County
- Sales tax
- 9% in Bryan County (Georgia DOR, effective October 1, 2026)
- Georgia income tax
- Flat 4.99% for tax year 2026
Income, home value and rent: the Census numbers
The Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) is the official count of what people earn and pay. The numbers below are 5-year estimates for 2020-2024, released in December 2025, in 2024 dollars. They average five years of survey answers, so they trail today’s market.
| Census ACS 2020-24 | Richmond Hill | Bryan County | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $92,824 | $103,408 | $77,353 | $80,734 |
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $313,400 | $343,200 | $303,300 | $332,700 |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,948 | $2,105 | $1,783 | $1,963 |
| Median gross rent | $1,781 | $1,618 | $1,393 | $1,413 |
Only 5-year numbers exist for Richmond Hill and Bryan County. The Census Bureau’s 1-year ACS covers only places with 65,000 or more people, so don’t compare these local figures with a statewide 1-year number.
What homes cost right now
Three sources give three different answers for the price of a home in Richmond Hill. They measure different things, and none is wrong.
| Measure | Who publishes it | Richmond Hill | Bryan County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median value, owner-occupied homes (2020-24 average) | Census ACS | $313,400 | $343,200 |
| Typical home value, August 2026 | Zillow Home Value Index (private estimate) | $419,999 | $399,664 |
| Median asking price, September 2026 | Realtor.com (private data) | $464,450 (ZIP 31324) | $442,550 |
Here is why they differ. The Census figure averages 2020 through 2024 and counts homes that owners bought years ago. Zillow and Realtor.com describe today. Zillow’s August 2026 values were down 1.6% from August 2025 in the city and down 1.3% in the county. Realtor.com’s September 2026 county asking price was down 3.74% from a year earlier, with a median of 73 days on the market and 267 active listings.
If you are shopping, the asking price is the number to plan around. Zillow and Realtor.com are private companies, and their figures are estimates and listing data, not official statistics. We could not find a Redfin sale-price median we could read, so we left it out.
What rent costs
| Measure | Richmond Hill | Bryan County |
|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent, Census ACS 2020-24 | $1,781 | $1,618 |
| Zillow Observed Rent Index, August 2026 (private estimate) | $2,236 | $2,221 |
The gap is real. The Census number averages what current renters pay, including leases signed years ago. Zillow’s number is closer to what a new lease costs today.
Property taxes in Bryan County
Georgia taxes homes at 40% of fair market value. That 40% is the assessed value. You then multiply the assessed value by the total millage rate, where one mill is $1 of tax per $1,000 of assessed value.
The 2025 millage rates
| Levy | 2025 mills | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Bryan County government | 5.770 | Everyone in the county |
| Bryan County Board of Education, operations | 14.663 | Everyone in the county |
| Bryan County Board of Education, bond debt | 1.500 | Everyone in the county |
| City of Richmond Hill | 3.981 | Inside city limits only |
| Total, unincorporated Bryan County | 21.933 | |
| Total, inside Richmond Hill | 25.914 |
Worked example: a $350,000 home, 2025 rates, before exemptions
This is an illustration, not a quote for any address. It uses a $350,000 market value, an assessed value of $140,000 (40%), and the 2025 rates above. It deducts no homestead exemption, because we could not confirm the exemption amounts that apply in Bryan County.
| Component | Mills | Annual tax |
|---|---|---|
| Bryan County government | 5.770 | $807.80 |
| Schools, operations | 14.663 | $2,052.82 |
| Schools, bond debt | 1.500 | $210.00 |
| Unincorporated total | 21.933 | $3,070.62 |
| City of Richmond Hill | 3.981 | $557.34 |
| Inside Richmond Hill total | 25.914 | $3,627.96 |
| Plus the 2025 city fire fee on a home | flat | $225.00 |
| Inside Richmond Hill with the fire fee | $3,852.96 |
City versus unincorporated
If your address is inside Richmond Hill city limits, you pay the city’s millage on top of the county and school rates. If it is in unincorporated Bryan County, you don’t. Trash also differs: inside the city it is billed monthly at $21.50, while unincorporated trash service is billed once a year on the county tax bill (see our landfill and trash guide). Ask the seller or your agent whether an address is inside the city limits.
What changes in 2026
The City of Richmond Hill is ending its separate fire fee ($225 for a home in 2025) and moving that cost into millage. Its proposed 2026 rate is 4.981 mills, up from 3.981, after a 0.763-mill reduction credited to the new 1% sales tax described below. Bills are due December 15, 2026, according to the city. We could not confirm the city’s final vote or the final 2026 county and school rates. The school district’s own example page lists 13.287 for 2026, while its June 2026 board newsletter says the FY27 budget uses the same 14.663 rate. Check your 2026 bill for the rates that were actually adopted.
Homestead exemption
A homestead exemption lowers the taxable value of the home you live in. You have to apply: you can file any time after the home becomes your primary residence, up to April 1 of the first year you want the exemption, and missing the deadline waives it (Georgia Department of Revenue). The Board of Assessors answers exemption questions at 912-756-3209. The City of Richmond Hill also offers a senior discount for resident owners 65 and older; call 912-756-3345.
We don’t list exemption dollar amounts here because we couldn’t confirm them from an official Bryan County page. Ask the Assessor’s Office before you budget. WSAV and WTOC reported in 2025 that the county, the cities and the school board are covered by Georgia’s HB 581 floating homestead, which limits yearly growth in a homestead’s taxable value. It does not cap your bill, because millage rates can still change.
Sales tax
The sales tax in Bryan County, including Richmond Hill, is 9% on the Georgia Department of Revenue’s chart effective October 1, 2026. That is the 4% state rate plus 5% in local taxes: LOST, school (ESPLOST), SPLOST, a transportation SPLOST, and the new FLOST. The FLOST is a 1% tax that began January 1, 2026 and runs through December 31, 2030, and it raised the county from 8% to 9%. It is meant to offset property tax, which is why the city’s proposed 2026 rate includes a credit for it. Older web pages may still show 8% or less.
Utilities
| Service | Who | What it costs |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity | Coastal Electric Cooperative, (800) 421-2343 or (912) 884-3311 | Standard residential since May 1, 2026: $37.50 monthly facilities charge, $0.12 per kWh, plus a $0.003 per kWh power cost adjustment |
| Water and sewer | City of Richmond Hill, 912-756-3345 | $21.50 base for water and $21.50 base for sewer. Volume for each: $3.80 per 1,000 gallons (first 6,000), $4.00 (6,001 to 10,000), $4.40 (10,001 to 25,000), $5.30 (over 25,000) |
| Trash and recycling | Atlantic Waste, billed by the city | $21.50 per month per container, includes one recycling cart |
| New water account | City of Richmond Hill | $100 residential application fee, photo ID required |
A city customer using 6,000 gallons a month pays $44.30 for water ($21.50 plus 6 times $3.80) and $44.30 for sewer. With the $21.50 garbage charge, that comes to $110.10 a month. Your usage will differ. Customers outside the city limits pay 150% of the city water rate.
Coastal Electric serves Bryan, Liberty, Long and McIntosh counties. Its pages don’t list communities, so confirm by address which electric company serves a home before you sign. We haven’t confirmed natural gas providers, and the co-op’s deposit amount isn’t posted, so ask both before you budget.
Car costs for newcomers
Georgia charges a one-time Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT) when you title a vehicle, instead of sales tax and the old yearly car tax. The Georgia Department of Revenue sets the rate at 7.0% of the vehicle’s fair market value, and 3% for new residents to Georgia. Its page doesn’t spell out conditions for the 3% rate, so read the details before you title your car.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| TAVT, standard rate | 7.0% of fair market value, once |
| TAVT, new Georgia residents | 3% of fair market value, once |
| Title fee | $18 |
| Annual registration, regular passenger car or light pickup | $20 |
As an example, a vehicle valued at $30,000 owes $2,100 in TAVT at 7%, plus the $18 title fee. At the new-resident rate of 3% it would be $900, if your vehicle qualifies.
Georgia income tax
Georgia’s income tax is a flat 4.99% for tax year 2026, according to the Georgia Department of Revenue.
What it takes to live here: the MIT living wage
MIT’s Living Wage Calculator estimates the pay a household needs to cover basic costs in Bryan County. It is a modeled estimate, not a measured wage. The county page was last updated February 15, 2026.
| MIT Living Wage, Bryan County | 1 adult, no children | 2 working adults, 2 children |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly living wage | $27.69 | $27.07 each |
| Required income before taxes | $57,598 | $112,626 |
| Housing, per year | $20,428 | $23,587 |
| Transportation, per year | $10,063 | $16,880 |
| Food, per year | $4,697 | $13,746 |
| Medical, per year | $3,004 | $9,212 |
| Child care, per year | $0 | $15,574 |
| Taxes, per year | $11,215 | $16,164 |
Frequently asked questions
How much are property taxes in Richmond Hill, GA?
Inside city limits the 2025 total was 25.914 mills. On a $350,000 home that is $3,627.96 before exemptions, plus a $225 city fire fee that year. In unincorporated Bryan County the total was 21.933 mills, or $3,070.62 on the same home. The city’s proposed 2026 rate is 4.981 mills with no separate fire fee.
What is the sales tax in Richmond Hill?
9% as of October 1, 2026: 4% state and 5% local. It rose from 8% on January 1, 2026, when the 1% FLOST began.
How much does a house cost in Richmond Hill, GA?
It depends on the measure. Census ACS puts the median owner-occupied value at $313,400 (2020-24). Zillow’s typical value was $419,999 in August 2026. Realtor.com’s median asking price was $442,550 for Bryan County and $464,450 for ZIP 31324 in September 2026.
How much is rent in Richmond Hill?
The Census median gross rent is $1,781 in the city and $1,618 in the county (ACS 2020-24). Zillow’s market rent index was $2,236 for the city and $2,221 for the county in August 2026.
How do I get a homestead exemption in Bryan County?
Apply after the home becomes your primary residence, no later than April 1 of the first year you want it. Call the Board of Assessors at 912-756-3209. Owners 65 and older should also ask the City of Richmond Hill about its senior discount at 912-756-3345.
What do I pay for my car when I move to Georgia?
A one-time TAVT of 7% of the vehicle’s value, or 3% for new Georgia residents, plus an $18 title fee and $20 a year for registration.
Keep reading
- First-week checklistUtilities, tags, trash and voter registration
- Richmond Hill vs. Pooler, Ellabell and StatesboroHow the nearby towns compare
- Commute to the Hyundai MetaplantDrive times and routes
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, tables B19013, B25077, B25088, B25064 (released December 2025), accessed through the Census Reporter API. censusreporter.org/profiles/16000US1365044-richmond-hill-ga/
- Zillow Research, Home Value Index and Observed Rent Index, August 2026. zillow.com/research/data/
- Realtor.com Research, median listing price, Bryan County and ZIP 31324, September 2026. realtor.com/research/data/
- WSAV, “Bryan County rolls back millage rate,” September 2025 (county and school rates). wsav.com/news/local-news/bryan-county-rolls-back-millage-rate-for-ninth-consecutive-year/
- City of Richmond Hill, 2026 Proposed Millage Rate and property tax FAQ (city rate, fire fee, due date, assessor and senior discount phone numbers). richmondhill-ga.gov/561/2026-Proposed-Millage-Rate
- Bryan County Schools, Example Millage Rate Calculation, and June 2026 board newsletter. bryan.k12.ga.us/page/example-calculation/
- Georgia Department of Revenue, County Property Tax Facts, Bryan (homestead filing deadline). dor.georgia.gov/county-property-tax-facts-bryan
- WSAV (February 6, 2025) and WTOC (April 25, 2025), reports on HB 581 opt-outs in Bryan County. wtoc.com/2025/04/26/bryan-county-schools-rescinds-opting-out-hb-581/
- Georgia Department of Revenue, Sales and Use Tax Rate Chart effective October 1, 2026, and Local Sales and Use Tax History (July 2026). dor.georgia.gov/sales-tax-rates-general
- Coastal Electric Cooperative, Rate Changes 2026 (May 1, 2026) and Service Area. coastalelectric.coop/rate-changes-2026/
- City of Richmond Hill, Water and Sewer Rates (effective January 1, 2026), Water Service, and Service Rates. richmondhill-ga.gov/177/Water-Sewer-Rates
- Georgia Department of Revenue, Title Ad Valorem Tax and motor vehicle fees pages. dor.georgia.gov/motor-vehicles/vehicle-registration-license-plates/vehicle-taxes-title-ad-valorem-tax-tavt-and
- Georgia Department of Revenue, Important Tax Updates (2026 income tax rate). dor.georgia.gov/taxes/important-tax-updates
- MIT Living Wage Calculator, Bryan County, GA (updated February 15, 2026). livingwage.mit.edu/counties/13029
Facts checked October 15, 2026 by the Living Richmond Hill team. Something changed? Tell us and we’ll update this page.
