Consumer Advocacy Group: Acworth is Great for Home Ownership

Patch Staff Report

According to the consumer advocacy site NerdWallet, home values increased 10 percent nationally in the last year, which could mean more homes on the market and better prospects for Georgia homebuyers.

But which Georgia communities offer the best conditions for buying a home? NerdWallett has crunched the numbers and found the best places for homeownership in Georgia.

Of the the 68 Georgia communities with 15,000 or more residents analyzed, Acworth came in at No. 11. See the full list here.

To determine which places have the most to offer homeowners, the group looked at three crucial factors:
· Are homes available?
· Can you afford to live there?
· Is the city growing?

More here from its methodology:

The overall score for each city was derived from each of these measures:

1. Homeownership rate made up 33.3% of the total score. A higher rate earned a higher score. The rate comes from the U.S. Census American Community Survey 5-year Estimates for all places in the state, Table DP 04.

2. Selected monthly owner costs as a percentage of median household income made up 16.7% of the total score. A lower percentage earned a higher score. Monthly homeowner costs as a percentage of median household income made up one-half of the affordability score. Median household income comes from the U.S. Census American Community Survey 5-year Estimates for all places in the state, Table DP 03. Monthly homeowner costs come from the U.S. Census American Community Survey 5-year Estimates for all places in the state, Table DP 04.

3. Median home value made up 16.7% of the total score. A lower value earned a higher score. Median home value made up one-half of the affordability score. Median home value come from the U.S. Census American Community Survey 5-year Estimates for all places in the state, Table DP 04.

4. Population change from 2010 to 2012 made up 33.3% of the total score. A higher percent change earned a higher score. The 2010 population came from the 2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for all places in the state, Table DP 05. The 2012 population data came from the 2012 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for all places in the state, Table DP 05. NerdWallet calculated the percent change.

All 68 Georgia places with 15,000 or more residents were included in this analysis.