The Town FilesDemorest, Georgia
City in Habersham County · population 2,022 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $232,600
- Household income
- $77,941
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 25.3
Demorest is a city of 2,022 people in Habersham County, Georgia. The median home is worth $232,600, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks more of a college town than 100% of Georgia towns, better for retirees than 98% of Georgia towns, hipper than 94% of Georgia towns.
How Demorest 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 Demorest is worth $232,600, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $77,941, which is more affordable than 65% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $1,302 a month. 53.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Demorest | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $232,600 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $1,302 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $77,941 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 53.6% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.0% | — |
Who lives in Demorest
| People | Demorest | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 25.3 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.0% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.3% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.9% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 13.6% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 20.1 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.2% | 88.0% |
Weather in Demorest
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 30.4°F. About 58.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.6 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 62 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Demorest since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 20, 1998 about 9.0 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 97 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 25, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 42 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 Demorest itself the ACS puts it at 7.4%.
Public schools in Demorest
3 public schools with 1,598 students, about 12.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hilliard A. Wilbanks Middle School | 6-8 | 610 | 13.3 |
| Demorest Elementary School | PK-5 | 527 | 13.2 |
| Fairview Elementary School | PK-5 | 461 | 10.7 |
Towns near Demorest
- Clarkesville, GA3.3 mi · 1,911 people · home $254,700
- Cornelia, GA3.3 mi · 4,503 people · home $231,900
- Mount Airy, GA3.8 mi · 1,391 people · home $227,500
- Baldwin, GA4.5 mi · 3,629 people · home $167,300
- Alto, GA7.0 mi · 970 people · home $192,200
- Raoul, GA8.0 mi · 2,803 people · home $127,500
- Toccoa, GA12.3 mi · 9,133 people · home $178,100
- Cleveland, GA12.6 mi · 3,514 people · home $334,000
Demorest questions
Is Demorest, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Demorest scores better for retirees than 98% of Georgia towns and quieter than 25%. 13.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 25.3).
How much does a house cost in Demorest?
The median owner-occupied home in Demorest is valued at $232,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $77,941, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,302 a month.
What is the weather like in Demorest?
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 30.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 58.9 inches of precipitation a year and 0.6 inches of snow.
Does Demorest get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Demorest 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)