The Town FilesBlue Ridge, Georgia
City in Fannin County · population 1,253 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $348,200
- Household income
- $44,773
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 46.5
Blue Ridge is a city of 1,253 people in Fannin County, Georgia. The median home is worth $348,200, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks better for a vacation home than 98% of Georgia towns, better for retirees than 94% of Georgia towns, hipper than 89% of Georgia towns.
How Blue Ridge 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 Blue Ridge is worth $348,200, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 7.8 times the median household income of $44,773, which is more affordable than 1% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $851 a month. 33.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Blue Ridge | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $348,200 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $851 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $44,773 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 7.8× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 33.8% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.7% | — |
Who lives in Blue Ridge
| People | Blue Ridge | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.5 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.0% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.0% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.5% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 2.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.9% | — |
| Work from home | 10.5% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 19.5 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.6% | 88.0% |
Weather in Blue Ridge
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 25.4°F. About 60.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.3 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 104 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Blue Ridge since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 3, 1974 about 9.2 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 35 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 24, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on May 26, 2011.
Severe weather in Fannin County since 1996
Fannin County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 9, 2026 | Tropical Storm | EM-3657: Hurricane Isaias |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3642: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3616: Hurricane Helene |
| May 5, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4600: Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| January 12, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4579: Tropical Storm Zeta |
Jobs and pay in Fannin County
Fannin County had 7,441 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,667 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Blue Ridge itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Blue Ridge
4 public schools with 2,351 students, about 13.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fannin County High School | 9-12 | 886 | 14.8 |
| Fannin County Middle School | 6-8 | 623 | 12.2 |
| West Fannin Elementary School | PK-5 | 467 | 14.6 |
| Blue Ridge Elementary School | PK-5 | 375 | 12.5 |
Towns near Blue Ridge
- Epworth, GA6.7 mi · 668 people · home $139,500
- McCaysville, GA8.5 mi · 1,149 people · home $121,900
- Ellijay, GA15.2 mi · 1,862 people · home $349,100
- East Ellijay, GA16.9 mi · 650 people · home $208,300
- Blairsville, GA21.0 mi · 616 people · home $212,500
- Murphy, NC23.0 mi · 1,608 people · home $250,000
- Eton, GA25.4 mi · 824 people · home $229,300
- Chatsworth, GA27.0 mi · 4,874 people · home $205,900
Blue Ridge questions
Is Blue Ridge, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Blue Ridge scores better for retirees than 94% of Georgia towns and quieter than 74%. 29.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.5).
How much does a house cost in Blue Ridge?
The median owner-occupied home in Blue Ridge is valued at $348,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,773, so homes cost about 7.8 times income. Median rent is $851 a month.
What is the weather like in Blue Ridge?
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 25.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 60.3 inches of precipitation a year and 3.3 inches of snow.
Does Blue Ridge get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Blue Ridge since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 3, 1974. 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)