The Town FilesRoyston, Georgia
City in Franklin County · population 2,649 (2020 Census) · spans 3 counties
- Median home
- $220,800
- Household income
- $34,435
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 39.1
Royston is a city of 2,649 people in Franklin County, Georgia. The median home is worth $220,800, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks hipper than 95% of Georgia towns, more of a college town than 94% of Georgia towns, better for retirees than 71% of Georgia towns.
How Royston 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 Royston is worth $220,800, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 6.4 times the median household income of $34,435, which is more affordable than 3% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $545 a month. 61.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Royston | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $220,800 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $545 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $34,435 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.4× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 61.3% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Royston
| People | Royston | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.1 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.0% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.2% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.2% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.6% | — |
| Work from home | 3.3% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 36.1 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 68.3% | 88.0% |
Weather in Royston
July highs average 88.9°F and January lows 32.6°F. About 51.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.9 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 36 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 49 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Royston since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 16, 2004 about 2.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 38 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 3, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 6, 2003.
Severe weather in Franklin County since 1996
Franklin County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, 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 |
| January 12, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4579: Tropical Storm Zeta |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4501: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Franklin County
Franklin County had 8,125 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,716 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Royston itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Public schools in Royston
1 public school with 514 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royston Elementary School | PK-5 | 514 | 13.9 |
Towns near Royston
- Hartwell, GA11.3 mi · 4,470 people · home $165,700
- Reed Creek, GA15.5 mi · 2,724 people · home $342,900
- Elberton, GA18.5 mi · 4,640 people · home $114,900
- Commerce, GA21.4 mi · 7,387 people · home $239,900
- Toccoa, GA23.8 mi · 9,133 people · home $178,100
- Athens-Clarke County, GA27.6 mi · 127,315 people · home $299,200
- Centerville, SC28.0 mi · 7,185 people · home $229,700
- Seneca, SC28.5 mi · 8,850 people · home $240,000
Royston questions
Is Royston, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Royston scores better for retirees than 71% of Georgia towns and quieter than 24%. 22.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.1).
How much does a house cost in Royston?
The median owner-occupied home in Royston is valued at $220,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $34,435, so homes cost about 6.4 times income. Median rent is $545 a month.
What is the weather like in Royston?
July highs average 88.9°F and January lows 32.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.9 inches of snow.
Does Royston get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Royston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 16, 2004. 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)