The Town FilesBlakely, Georgia
City in Early County · population 5,371 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $152,500
- Household income
- $49,821
- Jan low / Jul high
- 38° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 33
- Median age
- 39.8
Blakely is a city of 5,371 people in Early County, Georgia. The median home is worth $152,500, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650).
How Blakely 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 Blakely is worth $152,500, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $49,821, which is more affordable than 60% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $765 a month. 48.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Blakely | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $152,500 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $765 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $49,821 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 48.4% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.4% | — |
Who lives in Blakely
| People | Blakely | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.8 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.0% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.0% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.8% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 5.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.7% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 17.8 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.7% | 88.0% |
Weather in Blakely
July highs average 92.8°F and January lows 38.2°F. About 56.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 90 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 33 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Blakely since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on June 14, 2023 about 1.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 12, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 8, 1998.
Severe weather in Early County since 1996
Early County has been included in 16 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 |
| 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 |
| October 14, 2018 | Hurricane | DR-4400: Hurricane Michael |
Jobs and pay in Early County
Early County had 3,658 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,332 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Blakely itself the ACS puts it at 4.2%.
Public schools in Blakely
3 public schools with 1,542 students, about 10.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early County Elementary School | PK-5 | 672 | 9.9 |
| Early County High School | 9-12 | 515 | 10.7 |
| Early County Middle School | 6-8 | 355 | 9.3 |
Towns near Blakely
- Donalsonville, GA23.8 mi · 2,833 people · home $109,900
- Headland, AL25.4 mi · 4,973 people · home $219,600
- Cuthbert, GA28.1 mi · 3,143 people · home $126,100
Blakely questions
Is Blakely, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Blakely scores better for retirees than 29% of Georgia towns and quieter than 49%. 16.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.8).
How much does a house cost in Blakely?
The median owner-occupied home in Blakely is valued at $152,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,821, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $765 a month.
What is the weather like in Blakely?
July highs average 92.8°F and January lows 38.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.7 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Blakely get tornadoes?
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Blakely since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on June 14, 2023. 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)