The Town FilesBuchanan, Georgia
City in Haralson County · population 938 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $169,400
- Household income
- $52,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 38.3
Buchanan is a city of 938 people in Haralson County, Georgia. The median home is worth $169,400, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks quieter than 86% of Georgia towns, easier by car than 72% of Georgia towns.
How Buchanan 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 Buchanan is worth $169,400, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $52,500, which is more affordable than 57% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $986 a month. 48.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Buchanan | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $169,400 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $986 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $52,500 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 48.3% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Buchanan
| People | Buchanan | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.3 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.4% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 6.5% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.1% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 5.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 29.1 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.2% | 88.0% |
Weather in Buchanan
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 31.6°F. About 53.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.6 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 36 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 65 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Buchanan since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on March 2, 2012 about 5.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 29 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 19, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 15, 2008.
Severe weather in Haralson County since 1996
Haralson County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, tornado, hurricane.
| 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 |
| January 12, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4579: Tropical Storm Zeta |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4501: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Haralson County
Haralson County had 7,760 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,448 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Buchanan itself the ACS puts it at 10%.
Public schools in Buchanan
2 public schools with 844 students, about 13.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buchanan Primary School | PK-2 | 457 | 13.1 |
| Buchanan Elementary School | 3-5 | 387 | 12.9 |
Towns near Buchanan
- Bremen, GA6.4 mi · 7,185 people · home $289,500
- Waco, GA6.8 mi · 536 people · home $158,500
- Tallapoosa, GA7.6 mi · 3,227 people · home $185,100
- Temple, GA9.9 mi · 5,089 people · home $232,800
- Mount Zion, GA10.9 mi · 1,766 people · home $231,000
- Cedartown, GA15.9 mi · 10,190 people · home $147,200
- Villa Rica, GA15.9 mi · 16,970 people · home $274,200
- Carrollton, GA16.1 mi · 26,738 people · home $311,100
Buchanan questions
Is Buchanan, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Buchanan scores better for retirees than 38% of Georgia towns and quieter than 86%. 11.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.3).
How much does a house cost in Buchanan?
The median owner-occupied home in Buchanan is valued at $169,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,500, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $986 a month.
What is the weather like in Buchanan?
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 31.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.6 inches of snow.
Does Buchanan get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Buchanan since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on March 2, 2012. 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)