The Town FilesCovington, Georgia
City in Newton County · population 14,192 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $301,900
- Household income
- $58,810
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 37.8
Covington is a city of 14,192 people in Newton County, Georgia. The median home is worth $301,900, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks better for cycling than 95% of Georgia towns, better for first-time buyers than 90% of Georgia towns, more walkable than 81% of Georgia towns.
How Covington 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 Covington is worth $301,900, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 5.1 times the median household income of $58,810, which is more affordable than 11% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $1,191 a month. 48.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Covington | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $301,900 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $1,191 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $58,810 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.1× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 48.6% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Covington
| People | Covington | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.8 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.8% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.2% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.4% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.2% | — |
| Work from home | 16.2% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 36.5 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.4% | 88.0% |
Weather in Covington
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 33.6°F. About 50.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.3 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 52 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 62 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Covington since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on December 24, 1964 about 8.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 3, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 46 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 15, 2008.
Severe weather in Newton County since 1996
Newton County has been included in 21 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 30, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4830: Hurricane Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3616: Hurricane Helene |
| January 16, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4685: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Newton County
Newton County had 27,708 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,919 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Covington itself the ACS puts it at 7.3%.
Public schools in Covington
21 public schools with 18,358 students, about 16.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newton High School | 9-12 | 2,563 | 21.4 |
| Alcovy High School | 9-12 | 2,039 | 20.6 |
| Eastside High School | 9-12 | 1,615 | 19.5 |
| Newton County Theme School at Ficquett | PK-8 | 1,025 | 17.4 |
| Live Oak Elementary | PK-5 | 922 | 14.6 |
| Liberty Middle School | 6-8 | 900 | 17.0 |
| South Salem Elementary School | PK-5 | 848 | 15.4 |
| Indian Creek Middle School | 6-8 | 828 | 15.1 |
| Clements Middle School | 6-8 | 733 | 15.9 |
| Walnut Grove Elementary School | PK-5 | 728 | 14.9 |
| West Newton Elementary School | PK-5 | 650 | 14.8 |
| Oak Hill Elementary School | PK-5 | 642 | 14.3 |
Towns near Covington
- Social Circle, GA8.2 mi · 4,974 people · home $307,300
- Conyers, GA8.7 mi · 17,305 people · home $284,300
- Lakeview Estates, GA13.0 mi · 2,660 people · home $74,700
- Monroe, GA15.2 mi · 14,928 people · home $259,300
- Loganville, GA15.8 mi · 14,127 people · home $366,100
- Lithonia, GA16.7 mi · 2,662 people · home $223,000
- Stonecrest, GA17.9 mi · 59,194 people · home $243,500
- Snellville, GA19.9 mi · 20,573 people · home $335,000
Covington questions
Is Covington, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Covington scores better for retirees than 15% of Georgia towns and quieter than 18%. 16.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.8).
How much does a house cost in Covington?
The median owner-occupied home in Covington is valued at $301,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,810, so homes cost about 5.1 times income. Median rent is $1,191 a month.
What is the weather like in Covington?
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 33.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.5 inches of precipitation a year and 1.3 inches of snow.
Does Covington get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Covington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on December 24, 1964. 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)