The Town FilesCleveland, Georgia
City in White County · population 3,514 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $334,000
- Household income
- $64,450
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 41.7
Cleveland is a city of 3,514 people in White County, Georgia. The median home is worth $334,000, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks more vibrant than 93% of Georgia towns, easier by car than 92% of Georgia towns, more of a college town than 83% of Georgia towns.
How Cleveland 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 Cleveland is worth $334,000, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 5.2 times the median household income of $64,450, which is more affordable than 9% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $1,099 a month. 61.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cleveland | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $334,000 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $1,099 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $64,450 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.2× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 61.0% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1993 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.4% | — |
Who lives in Cleveland
| People | Cleveland | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.7 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.1% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 15.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.3% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.9% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.4% | — |
| Work from home | 8.3% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 22.3 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.0% | 88.0% |
Weather in Cleveland
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 27.4°F. About 65.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.1 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 97 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cleveland since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 20, 1998 about 3.7 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 13 deaths and 198 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 3, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 48 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on March 21, 2017.
Severe weather in White County since 1996
White County has been included in 22 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 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 |
Jobs and pay in White County
White County had 9,487 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $40,185 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Cleveland itself the ACS puts it at 1.1%.
Public schools in Cleveland
6 public schools with 5,238 students, about 15.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Education High School | 9-12 | 1,893 | 16.5 |
| White County High School | 9-12 | 1,161 | 15.9 |
| White County Middle School | 6-8 | 888 | 14.6 |
| Tesnatee Gap Elementary (Old White Co. Intermediate) | PK-5 | 491 | 13.6 |
| Mossy Creek Elementary School | PK-5 | 409 | 12.8 |
| Jack P Nix Elementary School | K-5 | 396 | 14.1 |
Towns near Cleveland
- Raoul, GA13.2 mi · 2,803 people · home $127,500
- Dahlonega, GA13.3 mi · 7,537 people · home $531,100
- Cornelia, GA14.2 mi · 4,503 people · home $231,900
- Baldwin, GA14.2 mi · 3,629 people · home $167,300
- Lula, GA14.9 mi · 2,822 people · home $239,400
- Gainesville, GA21.6 mi · 42,296 people · home $382,200
- Dawsonville, GA23.6 mi · 3,720 people · home $362,900
- Toccoa, GA24.7 mi · 9,133 people · home $178,100
Cleveland questions
Is Cleveland, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cleveland scores better for retirees than 35% of Georgia towns and quieter than 12%. 19.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.7).
How much does a house cost in Cleveland?
The median owner-occupied home in Cleveland is valued at $334,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,450, so homes cost about 5.2 times income. Median rent is $1,099 a month.
What is the weather like in Cleveland?
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 27.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 65.2 inches of precipitation a year and 1.1 inches of snow.
Does Cleveland get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cleveland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 20, 1998. 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)