The Town FilesClarkesville, Georgia
City in Habersham County · population 1,911 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $254,700
- Household income
- $73,798
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 46.9
Clarkesville is a city of 1,911 people in Habersham County, Georgia. The median home is worth $254,700, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks more of a college town than 90% of Georgia towns, better for retirees than 87% of Georgia towns, more upscale than 83% of Georgia towns.
How Clarkesville 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 Clarkesville is worth $254,700, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $73,798, which is more affordable than 47% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $1,271 a month. 66.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Clarkesville | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $254,700 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $1,271 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $73,798 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 66.5% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.4% | — |
Who lives in Clarkesville
| People | Clarkesville | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.9 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 35.3% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.2% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.1% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 9.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.9% | — |
| Work from home | 3.5% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 20.5 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.1% | 88.0% |
Weather in Clarkesville
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 29.1°F. About 61.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.3 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 31 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 93 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clarkesville since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 15, 1989 about 3.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 25, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 3, 2011.
Severe weather in Habersham County since 1996
Habersham County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| 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 |
| January 12, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4579: Tropical Storm Zeta |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4501: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Habersham County
Habersham County had 15,000 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,929 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Clarkesville itself the ACS puts it at 0.7%.
Public schools in Clarkesville
3 public schools with 1,204 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Habersham Middle School | 6-8 | 554 | 12.6 |
| Clarkesville Elementary School | PK-5 | 453 | 13.3 |
| Woodville Elementary School | PK-5 | 197 | 10.9 |
Towns near Clarkesville
- Demorest, GA3.3 mi · 2,022 people · home $232,600
- Mount Airy, GA6.2 mi · 1,391 people · home $227,500
- Cornelia, GA6.4 mi · 4,503 people · home $231,900
- Baldwin, GA7.8 mi · 3,629 people · home $167,300
- Alto, GA10.3 mi · 970 people · home $192,200
- Raoul, GA11.3 mi · 2,803 people · home $127,500
- Toccoa, GA11.5 mi · 9,133 people · home $178,100
- Yonah, GA12.5 mi · 657 people · home $213,500
Clarkesville questions
Is Clarkesville, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Clarkesville scores better for retirees than 87% of Georgia towns and quieter than 44%. 35.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.9).
How much does a house cost in Clarkesville?
The median owner-occupied home in Clarkesville is valued at $254,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $73,798, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,271 a month.
What is the weather like in Clarkesville?
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 29.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 61.8 inches of precipitation a year and 1.3 inches of snow.
Does Clarkesville get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clarkesville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 15, 1989. 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)