The Town FilesNorth High Shoals, Georgia
Town in Oconee County · population 552 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $375,600
- Household income
- $93,333
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 42.0
North High Shoals is a town of 552 people in Oconee County, Georgia. The median home is worth $375,600, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks better for families than 99% of Georgia towns, more upscale than 97% of Georgia towns, better for retirees than 89% of Georgia towns.
How North High Shoals 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 North High Shoals is worth $375,600, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $93,333, which is more affordable than 31% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $956 a month. 95.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | North High Shoals | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $375,600 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $956 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $93,333 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 95.0% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in North High Shoals
| People | North High Shoals | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.0 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.5% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.5% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.0% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.6% | — |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 21.2 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.1% | 88.0% |
Weather in North High Shoals
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 31.9°F. About 51.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 53 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 60 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North High Shoals since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 28, 1973 about 7.0 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 165 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 3, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 28 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on March 6, 1992.
Severe weather in Oconee County since 1996
Oconee County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, tornado, hurricane.
| 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 |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4501: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3464: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Oconee County
Oconee County had 16,112 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,898 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in North High Shoals itself the ACS puts it at 2.5%.
Towns near North High Shoals
- Watkinsville, GA6.0 mi · 2,896 people · home $367,800
- Bogart, GA8.4 mi · 1,326 people · home $273,500
- Statham, GA11.0 mi · 2,813 people · home $247,600
- Athens-Clarke County, GA11.3 mi · 127,315 people · home $299,200
- Monroe, GA12.6 mi · 14,928 people · home $259,300
- Bethlehem, GA14.1 mi · 715 people · home $263,500
- Russell, GA15.1 mi · 1,322 people · home $88,800
- Rutledge, GA15.3 mi · 871 people · home $283,900
North High Shoals questions
Is North High Shoals, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, North High Shoals scores better for retirees than 89% of Georgia towns and quieter than 68%. 17.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.0).
How much does a house cost in North High Shoals?
The median owner-occupied home in North High Shoals is valued at $375,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $93,333, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $956 a month.
What is the weather like in North High Shoals?
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 31.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does North High Shoals get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North High Shoals since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 28, 1973. 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)