The Town FilesDecatur, Georgia
City in DeKalb County · population 24,928 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $701,400
- Household income
- $139,397
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 39.8
Decatur is a city of 24,928 people in DeKalb County, Georgia. The median home is worth $701,400, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks more walkable than 100% of Georgia towns, hipper than 100% of Georgia towns, more upscale than 100% of Georgia towns.
How Decatur 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 Decatur is worth $701,400, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 5.0 times the median household income of $139,397, which is more affordable than 12% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $1,655 a month. 63.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Decatur | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $701,400 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $1,655 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $139,397 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.0× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 63.9% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.7% | — |
Who lives in Decatur
| People | Decatur | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.8 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.7% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 76.3% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.2% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 3.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.4% | — |
| Work from home | 38.5% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 25.9 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.5% | 88.0% |
Weather in Decatur
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 32.7°F. About 51.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.2 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 53 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 49 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Decatur since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 24, 1975 about 8.2 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 232 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 16, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 80 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 12, 2007.
Severe weather in DeKalb County since 1996
DeKalb 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 |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4501: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3464: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in DeKalb County
DeKalb County had 310,019 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $76,011 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Decatur itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Public schools in Decatur
42 public schools with 22,170 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur High School | 9-12 | 1,834 | 14.1 |
| Beacon Hill Middle School | 6-8 | 1,322 | 13.0 |
| Southwest DeKalb High School | 9-12 | 1,207 | 15.1 |
| Druid Hills Middle School | 6-8 | 929 | 12.9 |
| Columbia High School | 9-12 | 909 | 13.6 |
| McNair Middle School | 6-8 | 788 | 15.8 |
| Towers High School | 9-12 | 769 | 15.4 |
| Cedar Grove Middle School | 6-8 | 712 | 15.5 |
| Oak View Elementary | PK-5 | 701 | 17.1 |
| Mary McLeod Bethune Middle School | 6-8 | 672 | 14.3 |
| Miller Grove Middle School | 6-8 | 668 | 15.9 |
| Peachcrest Elementary School | PK-5 | 660 | 13.5 |
Towns near Decatur
- Avondale Estates, GA1.8 mi · 3,567 people · home $553,900
- Druid Hills, GA2.1 mi · 9,429 people · home $793,200
- Scottdale, GA2.4 mi · 10,698 people · home $357,100
- North Decatur, GA2.5 mi · 18,511 people · home $474,600
- Belvedere Park, GA2.6 mi · 15,113 people · home $296,600
- Candler-McAfee, GA3.4 mi · 22,468 people · home $259,300
- North Druid Hills, GA3.8 mi · 20,385 people · home $515,900
- Clarkston, GA4.3 mi · 14,756 people · home $302,600
Decatur questions
Is Decatur, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Decatur scores better for retirees than 42% of Georgia towns and quieter than 1%. 14.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.8).
How much does a house cost in Decatur?
The median owner-occupied home in Decatur is valued at $701,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $139,397, so homes cost about 5.0 times income. Median rent is $1,655 a month.
What is the weather like in Decatur?
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 32.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.4 inches of precipitation a year and 1.2 inches of snow.
Does Decatur get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Decatur since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 24, 1975. 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)