The Town FilesSardis, Georgia
City in Burke County · population 995 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $61,800
- Household income
- $52,303
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 92°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 43.4
Sardis is a city of 995 people in Burke County, Georgia. The median home is worth $61,800, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks quieter than 98% of Georgia towns, easier by car than 90% of Georgia towns.
How Sardis 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 Sardis is worth $61,800, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 1.2 times the median household income of $52,303, which is more affordable than 99% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $659 a month. 83.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sardis | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $61,800 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $659 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $52,303 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.2× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 83.7% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.7% | — |
Who lives in Sardis
| People | Sardis | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.4 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.4% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 15.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 4.2% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.8% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 4.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 6.3% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 24.9 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.7% | 88.0% |
Weather in Sardis
July highs average 91.9°F and January lows 34.0°F. About 48.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 74 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 52 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sardis since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on January 13, 1972 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 20, 2008.
Severe weather in Burke County since 1996
Burke County has been included in 20 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 |
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4821: Tropical Storm Debby |
| August 5, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3607: Hurricane Debby |
Jobs and pay in Burke County
Burke County had 7,429 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $79,708 a year. Unemployment was 5.5% in 2023; in Sardis itself the ACS puts it at 0.8%.
Public schools in Sardis
1 public school with 259 students, about 10.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| S G A Elementary School | PK-5 | 259 | 10.0 |
Towns near Sardis
- Millen, GA15.6 mi · 2,966 people · home $86,300
- Waynesboro, GA16.7 mi · 5,799 people · home $161,500
- Sylvania, GA17.2 mi · 2,634 people · home $155,300
- Jackson, SC24.5 mi · 1,521 people · home $199,800
- Allendale, SC26.3 mi · 2,694 people · home $86,500
- Hephzibah, GA29.2 mi · 3,830 people · home $185,700
- Barnwell, SC29.4 mi · 4,652 people · home $145,300
Sardis questions
Is Sardis, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sardis scores better for retirees than 29% of Georgia towns and quieter than 98%. 27.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.4).
How much does a house cost in Sardis?
The median owner-occupied home in Sardis is valued at $61,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,303, so homes cost about 1.2 times income. Median rent is $659 a month.
What is the weather like in Sardis?
July highs average 91.9°F and January lows 34.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.2 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Sardis get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sardis since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on January 13, 1972. 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)