The Town FilesJefferson, Georgia
City in Jackson County · population 13,233 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $377,300
- Household income
- $109,828
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 35.6
Jefferson is a city of 13,233 people in Jackson County, Georgia. The median home is worth $377,300, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks better for families than 96% of Georgia towns, more of a college town than 92% of Georgia towns, more upscale than 90% of Georgia towns.
How Jefferson 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 Jefferson is worth $377,300, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $109,828, which is more affordable than 51% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $1,074 a month. 79.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jefferson | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $377,300 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $1,074 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $109,828 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 79.6% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 2005 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Jefferson
| People | Jefferson | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.6 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.4% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.9% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.6% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.0% | — |
| Work from home | 14.1% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 33.9 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.1% | 88.0% |
Weather in Jefferson
July highs average 89.1°F and January lows 30.9°F. About 52.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.1 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 45 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 60 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jefferson since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 14, 1976 about 8.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 21, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 50 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on March 15, 2008.
Severe weather in Jackson County since 1996
Jackson County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, 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 |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4501: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Jackson County
Jackson County had 45,812 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,463 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Jefferson itself the ACS puts it at 2.6%.
Public schools in Jefferson
6 public schools with 6,208 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson High School | 9-12 | 1,275 | 16.6 |
| Gum Springs Elementary School | PK-5 | 1,181 | 14.4 |
| Jefferson Elementary School | PK-2 | 982 | 13.5 |
| Jefferson Middle School | 6-8 | 973 | 15.0 |
| Jefferson Academy | 3-5 | 939 | 15.7 |
| West Jackson Middle School | 6-8 | 858 | 15.6 |
Towns near Jefferson
- Commerce, GA9.0 mi · 7,387 people · home $239,900
- Hoschton, GA9.7 mi · 2,666 people · home $386,300
- Statham, GA12.0 mi · 2,813 people · home $247,600
- Winder, GA12.2 mi · 18,338 people · home $288,500
- Braselton, GA12.2 mi · 13,403 people · home $459,400
- Auburn, GA15.7 mi · 7,495 people · home $299,700
- Gainesville, GA16.8 mi · 42,296 people · home $382,200
- Oakwood, GA17.2 mi · 4,822 people · home $306,700
Jefferson questions
Is Jefferson, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jefferson scores better for retirees than 47% of Georgia towns and quieter than 31%. 11.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.6).
How much does a house cost in Jefferson?
The median owner-occupied home in Jefferson is valued at $377,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $109,828, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,074 a month.
What is the weather like in Jefferson?
July highs average 89.1°F and January lows 30.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.1 inches of precipitation a year and 1.1 inches of snow.
Does Jefferson get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jefferson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 14, 1976. 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)