The Town FilesAppling, Georgia
Community in Columbia County · population 658 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $299,300
- Household income
- $88,309
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 37.9
Appling is a community of 658 people in Columbia County, Georgia. The median home is worth $299,300, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks better for families than 97% of Georgia towns, easier by car than 90% of Georgia towns, better for retirees than 83% of Georgia towns.
How Appling ranks
Percentile among Georgia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Georgia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Appling is worth $299,300, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $88,309, which is more affordable than 51% of Georgia towns. 92.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Appling | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $299,300 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | — | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $88,309 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 92.4% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Appling
| People | Appling | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.9 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.6% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 48.8% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 0.7% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 8.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 32.1 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.6% | 88.0% |
Weather in Appling
July highs average 92.2°F and January lows 35.9°F. About 46.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.5 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 82 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 57 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Appling since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on March 3, 2019 about 6.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 3, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 11, 2018.
Severe weather in Columbia County since 1996
Columbia County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3642: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 30, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4830: Hurricane Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3616: Hurricane Helene |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4501: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3464: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Columbia County
Columbia County had 39,629 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,681 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Appling itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Appling
1 public school with 472 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Columbia Elementary School | PK-5 | 472 | 13.1 |
Towns near Appling
- Harlem, GA9.4 mi · 3,571 people · home $274,500
- Evans, GA9.8 mi · 34,536 people · home $366,100
- Grovetown, GA10.2 mi · 15,577 people · home $254,300
- Dearing, GA11.6 mi · 529 people · home $114,100
- Martinez, GA12.5 mi · 34,535 people · home $246,100
- Thomson, GA12.8 mi · 6,814 people · home $161,100
- Lincolnton, GA18.1 mi · 1,480 people · home $207,100
- Blythe, GA19.4 mi · 744 people · home $135,800
Appling questions
Is Appling, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Appling scores better for retirees than 83% of Georgia towns and quieter than 68%. 23.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.9).
How much does a house cost in Appling?
The median owner-occupied home in Appling is valued at $299,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $88,309, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Appling?
July highs average 92.2°F and January lows 35.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.9 inches of precipitation a year and 0.5 inches of snow.
Does Appling get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Appling since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on March 3, 2019. The typical Georgia town has had 17.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)