The Town FilesPorterdale, Georgia
City in Newton County · population 1,799 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $199,000
- Household income
- $49,773
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 43.7
Porterdale is a city of 1,799 people in Newton County, Georgia. The median home is worth $199,000, close to the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks more walkable than 91% of Georgia towns, better for first-time buyers than 84% of Georgia towns, hipper than 83% of Georgia towns.
How Porterdale 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 Porterdale is worth $199,000, close to the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $49,773, which is more affordable than 31% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $1,176 a month. 31.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Porterdale | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $199,000 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $1,176 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $49,773 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 31.6% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Porterdale
| People | Porterdale | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.7 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.5% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.8% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.6% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.7% | — |
| Work from home | 14.1% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 26.7 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.5% | 88.0% |
Weather in Porterdale
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 33.6°F. About 50.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.3 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 52 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 62 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Porterdale since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on December 24, 1964 about 9.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 3, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 49 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 12, 1996.
Severe weather in Newton County since 1996
Newton County has been included in 21 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 30, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4830: Hurricane Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3616: Hurricane Helene |
| January 16, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4685: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Newton County
Newton County had 27,708 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,919 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Porterdale itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Towns near Porterdale
- Covington, GA3.5 mi · 14,192 people · home $301,900
- Oxford, GA4.0 mi · 2,308 people · home $208,000
- Conyers, GA7.7 mi · 17,305 people · home $284,300
- Milstead, GA9.6 mi · 628 people · home $174,500
- Social Circle, GA11.6 mi · 4,974 people · home $307,300
- Newborn, GA12.1 mi · 676 people · home $233,300
- Walnut Grove, GA12.2 mi · 1,322 people · home $264,300
- Lakeview Estates, GA12.2 mi · 2,660 people · home $74,700
Porterdale questions
Is Porterdale, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Porterdale scores better for retirees than 9% of Georgia towns and quieter than 30%. 17.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.7).
How much does a house cost in Porterdale?
The median owner-occupied home in Porterdale is valued at $199,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,773, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $1,176 a month.
What is the weather like in Porterdale?
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 33.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.5 inches of precipitation a year and 1.3 inches of snow.
Does Porterdale get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Porterdale since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on December 24, 1964. 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)