The Town FilesWaleska, Georgia
City in Cherokee County · population 921 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $483,300
- Household income
- $56,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 21.4
Waleska is a city of 921 people in Cherokee County, Georgia. The median home is worth $483,300, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks more of a college town than 99% of Georgia towns, better for retirees than 98% of Georgia towns, better for families than 87% of Georgia towns.
How Waleska 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 Waleska is worth $483,300, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 8.6 times the median household income of $56,250, which is more affordable than 1% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $879 a month. 46.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Waleska | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $483,300 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $879 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $56,250 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 8.6× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 46.3% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.0% | — |
Who lives in Waleska
| People | Waleska | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 21.4 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 8.3% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 9.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.8% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.5% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 2.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.6% | — |
| Work from home | 19.0% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 16.6 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.0% | 88.0% |
Weather in Waleska
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 31.1°F. About 58.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.3 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 61 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waleska since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 27, 2011 about 8.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 40 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 20, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 45 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on February 21, 2005.
Severe weather in Cherokee County since 1996
Cherokee County has been included in 20 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 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 Cherokee County
Cherokee County had 74,280 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,283 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Waleska itself the ACS puts it at 5.1%.
Public schools in Waleska
1 public school with 1,027 students, about 11.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| R. M. Moore Elementary School | PK-5 | 1,027 | 11.7 |
Towns near Waleska
- Canton, GA5.6 mi · 32,973 people · home $407,800
- Ball Ground, GA10.2 mi · 2,560 people · home $366,300
- Nelson, GA10.7 mi · 1,145 people · home $255,000
- Holly Springs, GA10.8 mi · 16,213 people · home $448,400
- White, GA11.9 mi · 661 people · home $173,200
- Jasper, GA12.1 mi · 4,084 people · home $282,500
- Fairmount, GA12.3 mi · 772 people · home $135,200
- Woodstock, GA14.8 mi · 35,065 people · home $436,500
Waleska questions
Is Waleska, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Waleska scores better for retirees than 98% of Georgia towns and quieter than 69%. 8.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 21.4).
How much does a house cost in Waleska?
The median owner-occupied home in Waleska is valued at $483,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,250, so homes cost about 8.6 times income. Median rent is $879 a month.
What is the weather like in Waleska?
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 31.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 58.6 inches of precipitation a year and 1.3 inches of snow.
Does Waleska get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waleska since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 27, 2011. 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)