The Town FilesOglethorpe, Georgia
City in Macon County · population 995 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $65,300
- Household income
- $28,523
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 53.1
Oglethorpe is a city of 995 people in Macon County, Georgia. The median home is worth $65,300, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks better for young professionals than 80% of Georgia towns, quieter than 77% of Georgia towns.
How Oglethorpe 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 Oglethorpe is worth $65,300, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $28,523, which is more affordable than 86% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $659 a month. 69.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Oglethorpe | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $65,300 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $659 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $28,523 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 69.9% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.3% | — |
Who lives in Oglethorpe
| People | Oglethorpe | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.1 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.0% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 14.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7.0% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.1% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 10.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 28.8 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 77.3% | 88.0% |
Weather in Oglethorpe
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 34.7°F. About 53.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.2 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 60 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 45 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oglethorpe since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on March 1, 2007 about 4.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 22 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 5, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 12 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on March 31, 2013.
Severe weather in Macon County since 1996
Macon County has been included in 16 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 Macon County
Macon County had 2,873 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,399 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Oglethorpe itself the ACS puts it at 23.9%.
Public schools in Oglethorpe
1 public school with 535 students, about 14.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macon County Elementary School | PK-5 | 535 | 14.5 |
Towns near Oglethorpe
- Montezuma, GA2.6 mi · 3,047 people · home $107,700
- Marshallville, GA13.5 mi · 1,048 people · home $77,500
- Ellaville, GA14.9 mi · 1,595 people · home $160,500
- Americus, GA17.8 mi · 16,230 people · home $107,500
- Reynolds, GA18.6 mi · 926 people · home $78,800
- Unadilla, GA19.3 mi · 3,118 people · home $60,600
- Fort Valley, GA20.8 mi · 8,780 people · home $127,100
- Butler, GA20.9 mi · 1,881 people · home $81,300
Oglethorpe questions
Is Oglethorpe, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Oglethorpe scores better for retirees than 11% of Georgia towns and quieter than 77%. 30.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.1).
How much does a house cost in Oglethorpe?
The median owner-occupied home in Oglethorpe is valued at $65,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $28,523, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $659 a month.
What is the weather like in Oglethorpe?
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 34.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.4 inches of precipitation a year and 0.2 inches of snow.
Does Oglethorpe get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oglethorpe since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on March 1, 2007. 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)