The Town FilesEllijay, Georgia
City in Gilmer County · population 1,862 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $349,100
- Household income
- $48,136
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 39.2
Ellijay is a city of 1,862 people in Gilmer County, Georgia. The median home is worth $349,100, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks better for a vacation home than 91% of Georgia towns, hipper than 77% of Georgia towns, better for retirees than 71% of Georgia towns.
How Ellijay 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 Ellijay is worth $349,100, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 7.3 times the median household income of $48,136, which is more affordable than 2% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $791 a month. 35.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ellijay | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $349,100 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $791 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $48,136 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 7.3× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 35.4% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.4% | — |
Who lives in Ellijay
| People | Ellijay | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.2 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.4% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.6% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.2% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 5.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.2% | — |
| Work from home | 4.7% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 24.1 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.1% | 88.0% |
Weather in Ellijay
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 31.1°F. About 58.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.9 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 61 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ellijay since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 5, 1985 about 10.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 8, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 26, 2011.
Severe weather in Gilmer County since 1996
Gilmer County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, 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 Gilmer County
Gilmer County had 8,067 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,051 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Ellijay itself the ACS puts it at 6.3%.
Public schools in Ellijay
5 public schools with 4,110 students, about 14.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gilmer High School | 9-12 | 1,238 | 17.0 |
| Clear Creek Middle School | 6-8 | 884 | 14.7 |
| Ellijay Elementary School | PK-5 | 757 | 13.8 |
| Mountain View Elementary | PK-5 | 642 | 14.0 |
| Clear Creek Elementary School | PK-5 | 589 | 14.4 |
Towns near Ellijay
- East Ellijay, GA1.8 mi · 650 people · home $208,300
- Blue Ridge, GA15.2 mi · 1,253 people · home $348,200
- Jasper, GA15.8 mi · 4,084 people · home $282,500
- Chatsworth, GA18.2 mi · 4,874 people · home $205,900
- Eton, GA18.7 mi · 824 people · home $229,300
- Epworth, GA18.9 mi · 668 people · home $139,500
- McCaysville, GA21.1 mi · 1,149 people · home $121,900
- Fairmount, GA21.3 mi · 772 people · home $135,200
Ellijay questions
Is Ellijay, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ellijay scores better for retirees than 71% of Georgia towns and quieter than 49%. 25.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.2).
How much does a house cost in Ellijay?
The median owner-occupied home in Ellijay is valued at $349,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $48,136, so homes cost about 7.3 times income. Median rent is $791 a month.
What is the weather like in Ellijay?
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 31.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 58.6 inches of precipitation a year and 2.9 inches of snow.
Does Ellijay get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ellijay since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 5, 1985. 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)