The Town Files

Wilkes County, Georgia

9,549 people. The median home is worth $122,700 (typical Georgia town: $202,650) and the median household earns $52,043.

Towns in Wilkes County

Towns in Wilkes County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Washington3,754$144,500$54,21943.3

People and housing

Wilkes CountyTypical Georgia town
Median home value$122,700$202,650
Median rent$786$1,000
Median household income$52,043$57,176
Median age46.037.1
Bachelor's degree or higher16.9%19.6%
Below the poverty line17.8%16.2%

Jobs and pay

2,697 jobs in 2024, average pay $49,819 a year.

Largest industries in Wilkes CountyConstruction415 jobs · $85,409Retail343 jobs · $32,880Manufacturing313 jobs · $56,350Finance & insurance95 jobs · $64,249Wholesale trade78 jobs · $63,126Professional & technical serv…40 jobs · $50,246
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Wilkes County0%4%8%12%2000200420082012201620202023 3.7%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 207 storm events in Wilkes County from 1996 to 2026.

Storm events in Wilkes County by type since 1996Hail25Heat7Flood6Drought36Ice Storm6Heavy Snow5Flash Flood4Excessive Heat4Tropical Storm16Winter Weather6
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Wilkes County has been included in 17 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
January 24, 2026Winter StormEM-3642: Severe Winter Storm
September 30, 2024HurricaneDR-4830: Hurricane Helene
September 26, 2024Tropical StormEM-3616: Hurricane Helene
March 29, 2020BiologicalDR-4501: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3464: Covid-19
October 10, 2018HurricaneEM-3406: Hurricane Michael
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).