The Town FilesLavonia, Georgia
City in Franklin County · population 2,143 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $198,100
- Household income
- $36,859
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 33.7
Lavonia is a city of 2,143 people in Franklin County, Georgia. The median home is worth $198,100, close to the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks easier by car than 92% of Georgia towns, hipper than 81% of Georgia towns.
How Lavonia 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 Lavonia is worth $198,100, close to the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 5.4 times the median household income of $36,859, which is more affordable than 9% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $904 a month. 59.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lavonia | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $198,100 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $904 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $36,859 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.4× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 59.5% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.5% | — |
Who lives in Lavonia
| People | Lavonia | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.7 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.8% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 32.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.8% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.8% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 1.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 3.3% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 18.8 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.8% | 88.0% |
Weather in Lavonia
July highs average 88.9°F and January lows 32.6°F. About 51.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.9 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 36 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 49 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lavonia since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 10, 2009 about 1.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 3, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 5, 2017.
Severe weather in Franklin County since 1996
Franklin County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| January 12, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4579: Tropical Storm Zeta |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4501: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Franklin County
Franklin County had 8,125 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,716 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Lavonia itself the ACS puts it at 11.6%.
Public schools in Lavonia
1 public school with 543 students, about 12.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lavonia Elementary School | PK-5 | 543 | 12.9 |
Towns near Lavonia
- Gumlog, GA4.6 mi · 2,358 people · home $245,000
- Canon, GA6.4 mi · 643 people · home $118,300
- Chickasaw Point, SC7.2 mi · 718 people · home $350,700
- Carnesville, GA8.2 mi · 713 people · home $200,000
- Fair Play, SC8.6 mi · 704 people · home $222,500
- Royston, GA10.2 mi · 2,649 people · home $220,800
- Franklin Springs, GA10.6 mi · 1,155 people · home $207,500
- Reed Creek, GA11.1 mi · 2,724 people · home $342,900
Lavonia questions
Is Lavonia, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lavonia scores better for retirees than 29% of Georgia towns and quieter than 37%. 14.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.7).
How much does a house cost in Lavonia?
The median owner-occupied home in Lavonia is valued at $198,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $36,859, so homes cost about 5.4 times income. Median rent is $904 a month.
What is the weather like in Lavonia?
July highs average 88.9°F and January lows 32.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.9 inches of snow.
Does Lavonia get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lavonia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 10, 2009. 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)