The Town FilesRochelle, Georgia
City in Wilcox County · population 1,167 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $85,800
- Household income
- $41,607
- Jan low / Jul high
- 37° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 40.8
Rochelle is a city of 1,167 people in Wilcox County, Georgia. The median home is worth $85,800, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks hipper than 97% of Georgia towns, easier by car than 93% of Georgia towns, better transit than 72% of Georgia towns.
How Rochelle 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 Rochelle is worth $85,800, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $41,607, which is more affordable than 90% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $495 a month. 65.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rochelle | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $85,800 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $495 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $41,607 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 65.7% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in Rochelle
| People | Rochelle | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.8 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.1% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.5% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.8% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 2.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 6.3% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 34.5 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 65.3% | 88.0% |
Weather in Rochelle
July highs average 93.0°F and January lows 36.5°F. About 50.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.1 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 96 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 31 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rochelle since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on January 22, 2017 about 8.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on January 12, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on October 9, 2008.
Severe weather in Wilcox County since 1996
Wilcox County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, 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 |
| August 5, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3607: Hurricane Debby |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4501: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Wilcox County
Wilcox County had 1,173 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $40,801 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Rochelle itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Public schools in Rochelle
3 public schools with 1,173 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilcox County Elementary School | PK-5 | 563 | 13.1 |
| Wilcox County High School | 9-12 | 353 | 14.7 |
| Wilcox County Middle School | 6-8 | 257 | 16.1 |
Towns near Rochelle
- Abbeville, GA9.3 mi · 2,685 people · home $79,600
- Cordele, GA18.4 mi · 10,220 people · home $121,500
- Ashburn, GA20.1 mi · 4,291 people · home $101,000
- Fitzgerald, GA20.2 mi · 9,006 people · home $99,000
- Vienna, GA21.7 mi · 2,928 people · home $120,300
- Sycamore, GA21.8 mi · 692 people · home $64,000
- Milan, GA23.6 mi · 613 people · home $75,400
- Eastman, GA24.0 mi · 5,658 people · home $129,800
Rochelle questions
Is Rochelle, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rochelle scores better for retirees than 68% of Georgia towns and quieter than 66%. 30.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.8).
How much does a house cost in Rochelle?
The median owner-occupied home in Rochelle is valued at $85,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $41,607, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $495 a month.
What is the weather like in Rochelle?
July highs average 93.0°F and January lows 36.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.1 inches of snow.
Does Rochelle get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rochelle since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on January 22, 2017. 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)