The Town FilesBrookhaven, Georgia
City in DeKalb County · population 55,161 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $692,700
- Household income
- $117,663
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 34.1
Brookhaven is a city of 55,161 people in DeKalb County, Georgia. The median home is worth $692,700, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks better for young professionals than 99% of Georgia towns, more vibrant than 99% of Georgia towns, better transit than 98% of Georgia towns.
How Brookhaven 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 Brookhaven is worth $692,700, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 5.9 times the median household income of $117,663, which is more affordable than 5% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $1,882 a month. 52.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Brookhaven | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $692,700 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $1,882 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $117,663 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.9× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 52.6% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1994 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Brookhaven
| People | Brookhaven | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.1 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.5% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 70.9% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.3% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 2.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 21.1% | — |
| Work from home | 29.5% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 25.1 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.5% | 88.0% |
Weather in Brookhaven
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 32.7°F. About 51.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.0 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 53 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 49 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brookhaven since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on February 21, 1993 about 9.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 5 deaths and 200 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 29, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 103 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on February 18, 2009.
Severe weather in DeKalb County since 1996
DeKalb County has been included in 18 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 |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4501: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3464: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in DeKalb County
DeKalb County had 310,019 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $76,011 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Brookhaven itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Brookhaven
6 public schools with 4,885 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cross Keys High School | 9-12 | 1,768 | 14.9 |
| John Robert Lewis Elementary School | PK-5 | 873 | 14.6 |
| Montgomery Elementary School | PK-5 | 697 | 16.6 |
| Montclair Elementary School | PK-5 | 633 | 15.4 |
| Woodward Elementary School | PK-5 | 546 | 12.4 |
| DeKalb PATH Academy Charter School (charter) | 5-8 | 368 | 21.6 |
Towns near Brookhaven
- Chamblee, GA2.4 mi · 30,164 people · home $432,800
- North Druid Hills, GA3.1 mi · 20,385 people · home $515,900
- North Decatur, GA4.8 mi · 18,511 people · home $474,600
- Doraville, GA5.0 mi · 10,623 people · home $331,900
- Sandy Springs, GA5.1 mi · 108,080 people · home $619,800
- Druid Hills, GA5.5 mi · 9,429 people · home $793,200
- Dunwoody, GA5.6 mi · 51,683 people · home $602,900
- Scottdale, GA6.2 mi · 10,698 people · home $357,100
Brookhaven questions
Is Brookhaven, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Brookhaven scores better for retirees than 35% of Georgia towns and quieter than 6%. 10.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.1).
How much does a house cost in Brookhaven?
The median owner-occupied home in Brookhaven is valued at $692,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $117,663, so homes cost about 5.9 times income. Median rent is $1,882 a month.
What is the weather like in Brookhaven?
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 32.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.4 inches of precipitation a year and 1.0 inches of snow.
Does Brookhaven get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brookhaven since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on February 21, 1993. 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)