The Town FilesDahlonega, Georgia
City in Lumpkin County · population 7,537 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $531,100
- Household income
- $77,516
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 21.2
Dahlonega is a city of 7,537 people in Lumpkin County, Georgia. The median home is worth $531,100, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks more of a college town than 98% of Georgia towns, better for a vacation home than 93% of Georgia towns, more vibrant than 87% of Georgia towns.
How Dahlonega 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 Dahlonega is worth $531,100, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 6.9 times the median household income of $77,516, which is more affordable than 2% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $1,220 a month. 58.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dahlonega | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $531,100 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $1,220 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $77,516 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.9× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 58.8% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 2003 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.2% | — |
Who lives in Dahlonega
| People | Dahlonega | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 21.2 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.3% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 9.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 50.0% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 35.9% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 3.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 9.2% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 21.0 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.0% | 88.0% |
Weather in Dahlonega
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 27.4°F. About 65.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.3 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 97 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dahlonega since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 3, 1974 about 9.9 miles from the town center and killed 5. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 16 deaths and 131 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 4, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 7, 1998.
Severe weather in Lumpkin County since 1996
Lumpkin County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| 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 |
| May 5, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4600: Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Lumpkin County
Lumpkin County had 8,510 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,223 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Dahlonega itself the ACS puts it at 8.2%.
Public schools in Dahlonega
4 public schools with 3,024 students, about 14.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lumpkin County High School | 9-12 | 1,158 | 15.4 |
| Lumpkin County Middle School | 6-8 | 891 | 14.4 |
| Cottrell Elementary School | PK-5 | 580 | 14.9 |
| Long Branch Elementary School | PK-5 | 395 | 14.1 |
Towns near Dahlonega
- Dawsonville, GA10.6 mi · 3,720 people · home $362,900
- Cleveland, GA13.3 mi · 3,514 people · home $334,000
- Gainesville, GA18.7 mi · 42,296 people · home $382,200
- Lula, GA20.3 mi · 2,822 people · home $239,400
- Oakwood, GA21.9 mi · 4,822 people · home $306,700
- Raoul, GA22.1 mi · 2,803 people · home $127,500
- Cumming, GA24.0 mi · 7,318 people · home $382,900
- Baldwin, GA25.0 mi · 3,629 people · home $167,300
Dahlonega questions
Is Dahlonega, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dahlonega scores better for retirees than 75% of Georgia towns and quieter than 31%. 16.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 21.2).
How much does a house cost in Dahlonega?
The median owner-occupied home in Dahlonega is valued at $531,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $77,516, so homes cost about 6.9 times income. Median rent is $1,220 a month.
What is the weather like in Dahlonega?
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 27.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 65.2 inches of precipitation a year and 3.3 inches of snow.
Does Dahlonega get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dahlonega since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 3, 1974. 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)