The Town FilesJekyll Island, Georgia
Community in Glynn County · population 866 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $590,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 44° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 70.1
Jekyll Island is a community of 866 people in Glynn County, Georgia. The median home is worth $590,000, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks more seaside character than 100% of Georgia towns, better for a vacation home than 99% of Georgia towns, better for retirees than 95% of Georgia towns.
How Jekyll Island 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 Jekyll Island is worth $590,000, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). 92.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jekyll Island | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $590,000 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | — | $1,000 |
| Median household income | — | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | —× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 92.4% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 51.3% | — |
Who lives in Jekyll Island
| People | Jekyll Island | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 70.1 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 71.5% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 0.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 80.4% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 0.0% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 8.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.4% | — |
| Work from home | 55.4% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | — min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.9% | 88.0% |
Weather in Jekyll Island
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 44.1°F. About 45.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 47 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 9 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jekyll Island since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on February 24, 1963 about 9.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 30, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 30, 1971.
Severe weather in Glynn County since 1996
Glynn County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, freezing, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 30, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4830: Hurricane Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3616: Hurricane Helene |
| August 5, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3607: Hurricane Debby |
| September 7, 2023 | Hurricane | DR-4738: Hurricane Idalia |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4501: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Glynn County
Glynn County had 42,456 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,989 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Jekyll Island itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Jekyll Island
- Brunswick, GA5.8 mi · 15,210 people · home $155,900
- St. Simons, GA8.3 mi · 14,982 people · home $555,600
- Country Club Estates, GA10.2 mi · 8,373 people · home $168,800
- Dock Junction, GA11.1 mi · 8,266 people · home $143,700
- Sterling, GA15.8 mi · 2,534 people · home —
- Woodbine, GA19.1 mi · 1,062 people · home $149,400
- Darien, GA19.3 mi · 1,460 people · home $172,200
- Kings Bay Base, GA20.2 mi · 2,329 people · home —
Jekyll Island questions
Is Jekyll Island, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jekyll Island scores better for retirees than 95% of Georgia towns and quieter than 78%. 71.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 70.1).
How much does a house cost in Jekyll Island?
The median owner-occupied home in Jekyll Island is valued at $590,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of —. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Jekyll Island?
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 44.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.4 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Jekyll Island get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jekyll Island since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on February 24, 1963. 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)