The Town FilesFort Oglethorpe, Georgia
City in Catoosa County · population 10,423 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $199,700
- Household income
- $51,867
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 42.9
Fort Oglethorpe is a city of 10,423 people in Catoosa County, Georgia. The median home is worth $199,700, close to the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 90% of Georgia towns, more walkable than 85% of Georgia towns, more vibrant than 83% of Georgia towns.
How Fort Oglethorpe 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 Oglethorpe is worth $199,700, close to the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $51,867, which is more affordable than 34% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $937 a month. 47.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fort Oglethorpe | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $199,700 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $937 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $51,867 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 47.1% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1994 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Fort Oglethorpe
| People | Fort Oglethorpe | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.9 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.9% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 17.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.5% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.1% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.9% | — |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 20.9 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.0% | 88.0% |
Weather in Fort Oglethorpe
July highs average 89.1°F and January lows 28.9°F. About 56.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.7 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 51 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 84 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fort Oglethorpe since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 27, 2011 about 5.5 miles from the town center and killed 8. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 11 deaths and 123 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 12, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 78 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 7, 1985.
Severe weather in Catoosa County since 1996
Catoosa 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 Catoosa County
Catoosa County had 16,284 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,946 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Fort Oglethorpe itself the ACS puts it at 5.7%.
Public schools in Fort Oglethorpe
3 public schools with 1,877 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School | 9-12 | 988 | 12.2 |
| Battlefield Primary | PK-2 | 468 | 13.8 |
| Battlefield Elementary School | 3-5 | 421 | 13.2 |
Towns near Fort Oglethorpe
- Fairview, GA2.7 mi · 6,409 people · home $183,600
- Lakeview, GA3.2 mi · 4,777 people · home $171,700
- Rossville, GA3.9 mi · 3,980 people · home $133,000
- Chickamauga, GA4.5 mi · 2,917 people · home $269,100
- East Ridge, TN4.6 mi · 22,167 people · home $211,100
- Chattanooga Valley, GA5.5 mi · 3,962 people · home $205,300
- Ringgold, GA7.2 mi · 3,414 people · home $243,300
- Chattanooga, TN9.3 mi · 181,099 people · home $283,200
Fort Oglethorpe questions
Is Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fort Oglethorpe scores better for retirees than 75% of Georgia towns and quieter than 59%. 26.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.9).
How much does a house cost in Fort Oglethorpe?
The median owner-occupied home in Fort Oglethorpe is valued at $199,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,867, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $937 a month.
What is the weather like in Fort Oglethorpe?
July highs average 89.1°F and January lows 28.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.7 inches of snow.
Does Fort Oglethorpe get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fort Oglethorpe since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on April 27, 2011. 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)