The Town FilesDarien, Georgia
City in McIntosh County · population 1,460 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $172,200
- Household income
- $57,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 43° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 52.1
Darien is a city of 1,460 people in McIntosh County, Georgia. The median home is worth $172,200, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks quieter than 99% of Georgia towns, more seaside character than 99% of Georgia towns, better for retirees than 77% of Georgia towns.
How Darien 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 Darien is worth $172,200, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $57,000, which is more affordable than 65% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $925 a month. 79.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Darien | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $172,200 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $925 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $57,000 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 79.9% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.1% | — |
Who lives in Darien
| People | Darien | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.1 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 34.8% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.9% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.4% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 8.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 9.3% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 29.3 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.5% | 88.0% |
Weather in Darien
July highs average 91.3°F and January lows 42.6°F. About 50.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 62 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 12 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Darien since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on May 11, 2008 about 4.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 30, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 26, 2013.
Severe weather in McIntosh County since 1996
McIntosh County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, drought, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 30, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4830: Hurricane Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3616: Hurricane Helene |
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4821: Tropical Storm Debby |
| August 5, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3607: Hurricane Debby |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4501: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in McIntosh County
McIntosh County had 1,772 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,972 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Darien itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Public schools in Darien
3 public schools with 1,325 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Todd Grant Elementary School | PK-5 | 674 | 15.0 |
| McIntosh Academy | 9-12 | 380 | 14.6 |
| McIntosh County Middle School | 6-8 | 271 | 10.0 |
Towns near Darien
- Sterling, GA9.5 mi · 2,534 people · home —
- Country Club Estates, GA9.7 mi · 8,373 people · home $168,800
- Dock Junction, GA11.2 mi · 8,266 people · home $143,700
- St. Simons, GA11.5 mi · 14,982 people · home $555,600
- Crescent, GA12.5 mi · 838 people · home $153,400
- Brunswick, GA14.5 mi · 15,210 people · home $155,900
- Jekyll Island, GA19.3 mi · 866 people · home $590,000
- Riceboro, GA26.3 mi · 615 people · home $87,700
Darien questions
Is Darien, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Darien scores better for retirees than 77% of Georgia towns and quieter than 99%. 34.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.1).
How much does a house cost in Darien?
The median owner-occupied home in Darien is valued at $172,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,000, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $925 a month.
What is the weather like in Darien?
July highs average 91.3°F and January lows 42.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Darien get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Darien since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on May 11, 2008. 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)