The Town FilesHiawassee, Georgia
City in Towns County · population 981 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $411,100
- Household income
- $45,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 51.3
Hiawassee is a city of 981 people in Towns County, Georgia. The median home is worth $411,100, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks better for retirees than 100% of Georgia towns, better for a vacation home than 99% of Georgia towns, hipper than 93% of Georgia towns.
How Hiawassee 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 Hiawassee is worth $411,100, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 9.1 times the median household income of $45,000, which is more affordable than 0% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $1,072 a month. 58.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hiawassee | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $411,100 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $1,072 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $45,000 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 9.1× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 58.0% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1993 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 24.9% | — |
Who lives in Hiawassee
| People | Hiawassee | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.3 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 35.7% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.7% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.7% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 7.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.1% | — |
| Work from home | 14.6% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 13.3 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.0% | 88.0% |
Weather in Hiawassee
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 25.4°F. About 60.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.2 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 104 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hiawassee since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. The strongest, an F1, struck on March 29, 1997 about 0.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 29, 1997.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 7, 1998.
Severe weather in Towns County since 1996
Towns County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for hurricane, snowstorm, biological.
| 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 |
| January 12, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4579: Tropical Storm Zeta |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4501: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Towns County
Towns County had 3,398 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,811 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Hiawassee itself the ACS puts it at 7.1%.
Public schools in Hiawassee
3 public schools with 1,001 students, about 11.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Towns County Elementary School | PK-5 | 494 | 11.2 |
| Towns County High School | 9-12 | 288 | 12.0 |
| Towns County Middle School | 6-8 | 219 | 11.0 |
Towns near Hiawassee
- Young Harris, GA5.8 mi · 1,098 people · home $295,200
- Blairsville, GA12.6 mi · 616 people · home $212,500
- Helen, GA16.5 mi · 531 people · home $416,100
- Andrews, NC18.0 mi · 1,667 people · home $98,600
- Murphy, NC18.8 mi · 1,608 people · home $250,000
- Clayton, GA20.0 mi · 2,003 people · home $249,600
- Mountain City, GA20.8 mi · 904 people · home $153,400
- Yonah, GA20.9 mi · 657 people · home $213,500
Hiawassee questions
Is Hiawassee, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hiawassee scores better for retirees than 100% of Georgia towns and quieter than 90%. 35.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.3).
How much does a house cost in Hiawassee?
The median owner-occupied home in Hiawassee is valued at $411,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $45,000, so homes cost about 9.1 times income. Median rent is $1,072 a month.
What is the weather like in Hiawassee?
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 25.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 60.3 inches of precipitation a year and 3.2 inches of snow.
Does Hiawassee get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hiawassee since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on March 29, 1997. 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)