The Town FilesMountain City, Georgia
Town in Rabun County · population 904 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $153,400
- Household income
- $46,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 38.4
Mountain City is a town of 904 people in Rabun County, Georgia. The median home is worth $153,400, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks better for retirees than 98% of Georgia towns, better for a vacation home than 94% of Georgia towns, better for cycling than 94% of Georgia towns.
How Mountain City 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 Mountain City is worth $153,400, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $46,250, which is more affordable than 54% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $1,102 a month. 58.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mountain City | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $153,400 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $1,102 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $46,250 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 58.3% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 8.4% | — |
Who lives in Mountain City
| People | Mountain City | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.4 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.1% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.2% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.9% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.0% | — |
| Work from home | 9.6% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 32.5 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 77.8% | 88.0% |
Weather in Mountain City
July highs average 76.9°F and January lows 26.1°F. About 70.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.4 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 83 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mountain City since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 27, 2011 about 0.3 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 0 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 17, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 28 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 10, 2025.
Severe weather in Rabun County since 1996
Rabun County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, 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 |
| May 5, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4600: Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| January 12, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4579: Tropical Storm Zeta |
Jobs and pay in Rabun County
Rabun County had 5,758 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,641 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Mountain City itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Mountain City
- Clayton, GA3.3 mi · 2,003 people · home $249,600
- Highlands, NC13.8 mi · 1,072 people · home $700,900
- Franklin, NC17.8 mi · 4,175 people · home $195,000
- Cashiers, NC20.6 mi · 657 people · home $346,200
- Hiawassee, GA20.8 mi · 981 people · home $411,100
- Walhalla, SC21.2 mi · 4,072 people · home $171,900
- Clarkesville, GA23.1 mi · 1,911 people · home $254,700
- Toccoa, GA23.6 mi · 9,133 people · home $178,100
Mountain City questions
Is Mountain City, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mountain City scores better for retirees than 98% of Georgia towns and quieter than 84%. 22.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.4).
How much does a house cost in Mountain City?
The median owner-occupied home in Mountain City is valued at $153,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,250, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,102 a month.
What is the weather like in Mountain City?
July highs average 76.9°F and January lows 26.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 70.5 inches of precipitation a year and 2.4 inches of snow.
Does Mountain City get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mountain City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 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)