The Town FilesWadley, Georgia
City in Jefferson County · population 1,643 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $64,600
- Household income
- $37,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 40.9
Wadley is a city of 1,643 people in Jefferson County, Georgia. The median home is worth $64,600, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks better for cycling than 92% of Georgia towns, quieter than 82% of Georgia towns.
How Wadley 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 Wadley is worth $64,600, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $37,500, which is more affordable than 95% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $606 a month. 67.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wadley | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $64,600 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $606 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $37,500 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 67.5% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Wadley
| People | Wadley | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.9 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.9% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7.6% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.8% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.3% | — |
| Work from home | 2.8% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 33.9 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 73.0% | 88.0% |
Weather in Wadley
July highs average 91.2°F and January lows 34.0°F. About 47.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.2 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 79 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 47 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wadley since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on January 13, 1972 about 1.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 31 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 13, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on September 27, 2011.
Severe weather in Jefferson County since 1996
Jefferson County has been included in 19 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 |
| August 5, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3607: Hurricane Debby |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4501: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Jefferson County
Jefferson County had 4,888 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,321 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Wadley itself the ACS puts it at 8.6%.
Public schools in Wadley
1 public school with 199 students, about 11.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carver Elementary School | PK-5 | 199 | 11.7 |
Towns near Wadley
- Louisville, GA8.9 mi · 2,381 people · home $120,400
- Davisboro, GA14.2 mi · 1,832 people · home $114,300
- Swainsboro, GA19.7 mi · 7,425 people · home $109,300
- Wrightsville, GA20.7 mi · 3,449 people · home $65,400
- Wrens, GA23.7 mi · 2,217 people · home $123,400
- Twin City, GA24.1 mi · 1,642 people · home $63,500
- Tennille, GA24.3 mi · 1,469 people · home $91,000
- Sandersville, GA24.7 mi · 5,813 people · home $121,000
Wadley questions
Is Wadley, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wadley scores better for retirees than 19% of Georgia towns and quieter than 82%. 17.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.9).
How much does a house cost in Wadley?
The median owner-occupied home in Wadley is valued at $64,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $37,500, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $606 a month.
What is the weather like in Wadley?
July highs average 91.2°F and January lows 34.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.2 inches of snow.
Does Wadley get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wadley 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)