Ellijay, GA vs Molena, GA

Ellijay is moderately more affordable than Molena, with a 5.6% lower cost of living index. Ellijay scores 80 compared to 85 for Molena, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Molena can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Ellijay is $728/month compared to $1,250/month in Molena — a 42% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Ellijay has cheaper rent, Molena actually has lower median home values ($142,900 vs $277,600).

Median household income in Ellijay is $47,639 compared to $44,531 in Molena (+7%). Ellijay offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Ellijay spend roughly 18.3% of their income on rent, less than the 33.7% in Molena. The Ellijay ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.