The Town FilesClayton, Georgia
City in Rabun County · population 2,003 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $249,600
- Household income
- $57,083
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 45.7
Clayton is a city of 2,003 people in Rabun County, Georgia. The median home is worth $249,600, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks better for a vacation home than 99% of Georgia towns, better for retirees than 96% of Georgia towns, quieter than 96% of Georgia towns.
How Clayton 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 Clayton is worth $249,600, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $57,083, which is more affordable than 20% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $814 a month. 63.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Clayton | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $249,600 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $814 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $57,083 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 63.5% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.2% | — |
Who lives in Clayton
| People | Clayton | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.7 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.5% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.5% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.8% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.8% | — |
| Work from home | 16.6% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 14.2 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.0% | 88.0% |
Weather in Clayton
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 29.7°F. About 71.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.4 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 88 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clayton since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 27, 2011 about 2.3 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 1 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 17, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 27, 2011.
Severe weather in Rabun County since 1996
Rabun County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, 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 |
| May 5, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4600: Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| January 12, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4579: Tropical Storm Zeta |
Jobs and pay in Rabun County
Rabun County had 5,758 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,641 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Clayton itself the ACS puts it at 1.2%.
Towns near Clayton
- Mountain City, GA3.3 mi · 904 people · home $153,400
- Highlands, NC16.9 mi · 1,072 people · home $700,900
- Clarkesville, GA19.8 mi · 1,911 people · home $254,700
- Hiawassee, GA20.0 mi · 981 people · home $411,100
- Toccoa, GA20.8 mi · 9,133 people · home $178,100
- Franklin, NC21.0 mi · 4,175 people · home $195,000
- Walhalla, SC21.1 mi · 4,072 people · home $171,900
- Helen, GA21.8 mi · 531 people · home $416,100
Clayton questions
Is Clayton, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Clayton scores better for retirees than 96% of Georgia towns and quieter than 96%. 24.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.7).
How much does a house cost in Clayton?
The median owner-occupied home in Clayton is valued at $249,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,083, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $814 a month.
What is the weather like in Clayton?
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 29.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 71.7 inches of precipitation a year and 2.4 inches of snow.
Does Clayton get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clayton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 27, 2011. 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)