In this article
Key Takeaways:
- Milton is a blend of rural estates and small-town neighborhoods less than an hour from downtown Atlanta.
- Median household income in 2023 was $151,213.
- Median price for homes sold, as of September 2024, was $1,179,000.
- City parks offer over 400 acres of public greenspace, an arboretum, and a variety of athletics, classes, and other recreational activities.
- Local school options include private, charter, and public schools, including award-winning Milton High School.
Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer, a veteran homeowner, or someone looking to rent for a while, the city of Milton is one of Georgia’s hidden gems of a hometown.
Bordered by the cities of Alpharetta and Roswell and unincorporated parts of Fulton County, Milton is a small town (population 41,296 per the 2020 Census) with convenient access to key areas of Metro Atlanta, making it an ideal place to consider buying vs. renting a house.
Why Milton stands out
There are countless reasons buying vs. renting a house in Milton is worth considering. The city offers a headline-grabbing quality of life for families, young adults, and retirees. In recent years 24/7 Wall Street named Milton one of the South’s most livable cities, Safewise.com ranked it among Georgia’s safest cities, and Appenmedia.com, noted that Milton’s equestrian culture is so strong that riding apparel is common fashion even at coffee shops. Horsemanship is such a part of the town’s lifestyle that the city’s logo features a galloping steed.
Education in Milton is as purposeful as its planning. Charter and private schools are available to Milton’s students, along with such award-winning campuses as Milton High School, rated #6 among the state’s college-prep academies and whose students averaged 5.1 points over the national norm on the ACT college-entry exam.
Economic prosperity is another of Milton’s chief characteristics. Incorporated in 2006, the town boasts a median household income of $151,235, more than double the median household income across Georgia. Over three-quarters of adults have at least a bachelor’s degree, which is also more than double the state average. Homeownership stands at 73.8 percent (also outpacing the state average), with nearly two-thirds of homes valued at $500,000 or more. Milton’s workforce leans heavily toward technology, healthcare, and finance, as its top four employers are Verizon Wireless, Philips Healthcare, Infor, and Country Financial.
Milton’s community flavor is unique. The city’s careful planning includes eight “character areas” intended to emphasize each one’s unique history, natural beauty, and growth patterns. The equestrian vibe is real: Some 200 horse farms make Milton a haven for riders and help maintain the community’s rural aesthetic, aided by mostly residential zoning and limiting commercial development to three main corridors. Public amenities include more than 400 acres of parks and greenspace (including the Mark Law Arboretum) that will eventually be connected by 70 miles of paved trails and sidewalks (including the downtown Heritage Walk); a variety of adult and youth sports; and community events from festivals and holiday celebrations to a downtown farmers’ market.
Renting in Milton: Pros and Cons
Milton’s home prices reflect the community’s elevated quality of life. According to U.S. Census Bureau 2023 figures, more than 65 percent of homes were valued at a half-million dollars or more, with nearly one-fourth valued over $1 million.
If written descriptions and an initial visit to Milton make the bucolic burg seem like a place you might love calling home, renting vs. buying can let you test the waters further without a long-term commitment and without the upfront costs and ongoing responsibilities of homeownership.
Whether you’re considering the future ramifications of marriage, having children, a job relocation, or the needs of older family members, renting an apartment, townhouse, or traditional family home can provide flexibility to respond to major lifestyle changes.
Home rentals in the 30004 ZIP code that covers most of Milton are, again not surprisingly, not cheap. They are, however, offered in a range of sizes, costs, and amenities. Several recent listings reflect the lower part of that scale:
- $1,349 – 1BR apartment
- $2,450 – 3BR/2.5BA, 1,764-square-foot freestanding home
- $2,650 – 3BR/2BA, 1,728-square-foot townhouse
Further up the price scale were these:
- $2,300 – 3BR/2BA, 1,477-square-foot apartment
- $3,600 – 5BR/4BA, 3,661-square-foot freestanding home
- $17,000 – 9/BR, 9.5/BA, 14,200-square-foot executive home
Renting gives you a chance to know Milton, to gauge how long-term your employment in the town (or nearby) is likely to be, and to make some wise estimations about how family needs shape up in the foreseeable future. It also means moving in with few up-front costs beyond deposits for utilities and the last month’s rent.
Buying vs. Renting a House in Milton
Even in the face of down payments, mortgage qualifying, and seemingly endless details, buying a home in Milton has its own persuasive reasons, and the Moreira Team’s super-approval mortgage pre-qualification can put you in a position to compete with cash buyers in this competitive market.
Right-Brain You has been smitten with the charm of the town, fallen in love with a particular neighborhood, and found the dreamhouse where you can imagine yourself happily ever aftering.
But Left-Brain You will require practical reasons before you purchase. If so, some of Milton’s answers will mirror those of many other communities:
- Building equity
- Income tax benefits from mortgage-interest and property-tax deductions
- Appreciating property values
- Having a place to call “home” and building long-term neighborhood friendships–not to mention avoiding the expense and disruption of frequent moves
Left-Brain You will also see the practical value of Milton’s greenspace preservation, convenient and appealing commercial areas, recreational opportunities, and stellar public safety record. All those factors reflect Milton’s quality of life and solidly support the long-term value of your home investment. (According to Homes.com, Milton’s average home sale price rose by 15 percent in 2024, and Milton residences tend to sell one-third faster than homes nationwide.)
Recent listings of homes for purchase in the 30004 ZIP code offer a variety of possibilities:
- $339,900 – 0.95-acre wooded lot on cul-de-sac of executive homes
- $408,000 – 3BR/3BA, 2,087-square-foot attached corner-unit condo
- $474,000 – 2BR/2BA, 1,640-square-foot standalone home in 55+ retirement neighborhood
- $766,000 – 5BR/4BA, 3,789-square-foot home on 0.15-acre lot
- $795,000 – 3BR/2.5 BA, 2,317-square-foot new home within easy walk of shopping and dining
- $925,000 – 6BR/5BA, 5,200-square-foot golf course home on half-acre lot
- $1.57 million – 4BR/3.5BA, 2,040-square-foot log cabin on 15.5-acre wooded property
- $1.69 million – 6BR/5.5BA, 6,936-square-foot home on 1.3-acre corner lot
- $2.7 million – 6BR/6.5BA, 7,880-square-foot home on one-acre lot
- $5.19 million – 6BR/6.5BA, 10,685-square-foot home on 11.54-acre property
With any of those, the Moreira Team is eager to help. It’s easy to pick your best mortgage rate with us when you’re eager to close.
Lifestyle Factors to Consider
Every single person, family, or blended household will weigh different considerations in buying vs. renting a home in Milton. Renting offers flexibility for any of several factors:
- Marriage: Where your future spouse currently lives; how much space you will need together; whether you want to “settle” quickly or have fewer home-related responsibilities; children
- Long-distance romance: Where your significant other lives; who can commute/relocate most readily
- Education: Have you (and your significant other) finished your formal education? If not, would further schooling require relocating?
- Job stability: Is your Metro Atlanta job long-term or a stepping stone?
- Extended family: If your family isn’t nearby, are you happy with that? Are there relatives who may need your in-person care in the foreseeable future? If so, will you relocate, or will they?
Even when buying in Milton is clearly the right answer, there are other considerations for where and how much house to buy:
- Price
- HOA or no HOA, amenities, walking distance to parks, schools, and other community features
- Size and type (one-story vs. multi-level; family size; need for storage and play space)
Conclusion
Whether you’re building equity with a purchase or staying flexible with a rental, Milton offers a quality of life without par. Ready to explore its neighborhoods? Learn how the Moreira Team can guide you in deciding between buying vs. renting a house. Contact us today.