The Town FilesWashington, Georgia
City in Wilkes County · population 3,754 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $144,500
- Household income
- $54,219
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 43.3
Washington is a city of 3,754 people in Wilkes County, Georgia. The median home is worth $144,500, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks quieter than 98% of Georgia towns, hipper than 91% of Georgia towns, better for retirees than 83% of Georgia towns.
How Washington 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 Washington is worth $144,500, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $54,219, which is more affordable than 75% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $842 a month. 58.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Washington | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $144,500 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $842 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $54,219 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 58.5% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.9% | — |
Who lives in Washington
| People | Washington | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.3 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.1% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.3% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.2% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 4.6% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 33.3 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 66.8% | 88.0% |
Weather in Washington
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 33.5°F. About 44.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.5 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 53 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 51 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washington since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on February 18, 2009 about 5.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on February 18, 2009.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on September 7, 2023.
Severe weather in Wilkes County since 1996
Wilkes County has been included in 17 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 |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4501: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3464: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Wilkes County
Wilkes County had 2,697 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,819 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Washington itself the ACS puts it at 1.1%.
Public schools in Washington
5 public schools with 1,253 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Wilkes Comprehensive High School | 9-12 | 359 | 12.8 |
| Washington-Wilkes Primary School | K-3 | 349 | 15.2 |
| Washington-Wilkes Middle School | 6-8 | 299 | 16.6 |
| Washington-Wilkes Elementary School | 4-5 | 245 | 13.6 |
| Wilkes County Regional Detention Center | 6-12 | 1 | 0.5 |
Towns near Washington
- Thomson, GA23.2 mi · 6,814 people · home $161,100
- Elberton, GA26.6 mi · 4,640 people · home $114,900
- Greensboro, GA28.3 mi · 3,648 people · home $194,300
Washington questions
Is Washington, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Washington scores better for retirees than 83% of Georgia towns and quieter than 98%. 23.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.3).
How much does a house cost in Washington?
The median owner-occupied home in Washington is valued at $144,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,219, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $842 a month.
What is the weather like in Washington?
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 33.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.5 inches of snow.
Does Washington get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on February 18, 2009. 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)