The Town FilesEmerson, Georgia
City in Bartow County · population 1,415 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $226,600
- Household income
- $75,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 39.9
Emerson is a city of 1,415 people in Bartow County, Georgia. The median home is worth $226,600, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks better for families than 77% of Georgia towns, more upscale than 76% of Georgia towns.
How Emerson 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 Emerson is worth $226,600, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $75,250, which is more affordable than 65% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $1,486 a month. 68.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Emerson | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $226,600 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $1,486 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $75,250 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 68.5% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.0% | — |
Who lives in Emerson
| People | Emerson | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.9 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.5% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.7% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.5% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 4.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.2% | — |
| Work from home | 18.9% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 28.6 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.0% | 88.0% |
Weather in Emerson
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 29.0°F. About 51.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 44 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 68 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Emerson since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on March 15, 2008 about 6.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 23 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 108 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 7, 1998.
Severe weather in Bartow County since 1996
Bartow County has been included in 20 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 Bartow County
Bartow County had 46,472 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,660 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Emerson itself the ACS puts it at 8.4%.
Public schools in Emerson
2 public schools with 974 students, about 12.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Top Middle School | 6-8 | 569 | 12.6 |
| Emerson Elementary School | PK-5 | 405 | 11.9 |
Towns near Emerson
- Cartersville, GA4.0 mi · 23,187 people · home $338,200
- Acworth, GA6.0 mi · 22,440 people · home $339,900
- Kennesaw, GA10.3 mi · 33,036 people · home $335,400
- White, GA10.4 mi · 661 people · home $173,200
- Euharlee, GA10.8 mi · 4,268 people · home $247,400
- Kingston, GA13.3 mi · 722 people · home $217,000
- Woodstock, GA13.4 mi · 35,065 people · home $436,500
- Holly Springs, GA15.1 mi · 16,213 people · home $448,400
Emerson questions
Is Emerson, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Emerson scores better for retirees than 57% of Georgia towns and quieter than 65%. 17.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.9).
How much does a house cost in Emerson?
The median owner-occupied home in Emerson is valued at $226,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $75,250, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,486 a month.
What is the weather like in Emerson?
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 29.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Emerson get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Emerson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on March 15, 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)