The Town FilesFort Gaines, Georgia
City in Clay County · population 995 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $90,500
- Household income
- $38,071
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 32.5
Fort Gaines is a city of 995 people in Clay County, Georgia. The median home is worth $90,500, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks better for retirees than 87% of Georgia towns, hipper than 82% of Georgia towns, better for first-time buyers than 76% of Georgia towns.
How Fort Gaines 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 Fort Gaines is worth $90,500, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $38,071, which is more affordable than 83% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $525 a month. 48.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fort Gaines | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $90,500 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $525 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $38,071 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 48.5% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 8.0% | — |
Who lives in Fort Gaines
| People | Fort Gaines | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.5 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.0% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.6% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 31.7% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 3.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 3.4% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 21.3 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.1% | 88.0% |
Weather in Fort Gaines
July highs average 91.5°F and January lows 34.9°F. About 55.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.2 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 69 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 37 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fort Gaines since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on November 5, 2002 about 9.5 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 26 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 19, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 4 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on December 28, 2005.
Severe weather in Clay County since 1996
Clay County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 9, 2026 | Tropical Storm | EM-3657: Hurricane Isaias |
| 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 |
| October 14, 2018 | Hurricane | DR-4400: Hurricane Michael |
Jobs and pay in Clay County
Clay County had 589 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $38,988 a year. Unemployment was 7.8% in 2023; in Fort Gaines itself the ACS puts it at 9.8%.
Public schools in Fort Gaines
2 public schools with 205 students, about 8.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County Elementary | PK-5 | 155 | 9.1 |
| Clay County Middle School | 6-8 | 50 | 7.1 |
Towns near Fort Gaines
- Abbeville, AL12.5 mi · 2,358 people · home $107,600
- Georgetown-Quitman County unified government, GA16.7 mi · 2,235 people · home $104,600
- Cuthbert, GA18.5 mi · 3,143 people · home $126,100
- Blakely, GA18.6 mi · 5,371 people · home $152,500
- Edison, GA19.4 mi · 1,230 people · home $64,500
- Eufaula, AL20.4 mi · 12,882 people · home $139,900
- Newville, AL21.7 mi · 544 people · home $107,800
- Columbia, AL23.0 mi · 690 people · home $156,800
Fort Gaines questions
Is Fort Gaines, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fort Gaines scores better for retirees than 87% of Georgia towns and quieter than 63%. 17.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.5).
How much does a house cost in Fort Gaines?
The median owner-occupied home in Fort Gaines is valued at $90,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $38,071, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $525 a month.
What is the weather like in Fort Gaines?
July highs average 91.5°F and January lows 34.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.7 inches of precipitation a year and 0.2 inches of snow.
Does Fort Gaines get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fort Gaines since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on November 5, 2002. 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)