The Town FilesEchols County, Georgia
Consolidated government in Echols County · population 3,697 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $124,100
- Household income
- $59,489
- Jan low / Jul high
- 38° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 30.5
Echols County is a consolidated government of 3,697 people in Echols County, Georgia. The median home is worth $124,100, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks quieter than 79% of Georgia towns, better for families than 71% of Georgia towns, better transit than 71% of Georgia towns.
- #5 in 25 Small Towns in Georgia With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #8 in The 14 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Georgia With Mild Winters
- #11 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Georgia
- #13 in The 14 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Georgia
- #15 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Georgia
How Echols County 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 Echols County is worth $124,100, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $59,489, which is more affordable than 90% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $1,017 a month. 75.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Echols County | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $124,100 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $1,017 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $59,489 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 75.9% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.2% | — |
Who lives in Echols County
| People | Echols County | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.5 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.3% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 30.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.7% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.2% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.8% | — |
| Work from home | 1.0% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 29.2 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 68.5% | 88.0% |
Weather in Echols County
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 38.4°F. About 52.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 82 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 31 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Echols County since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on March 23, 2022 about 9.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 23, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 24, 2021.
Severe weather in Echols County since 1996
Echols County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 21, 2026 | Fire | FM-5629: Pineland Road Fire |
| September 30, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4830: Hurricane Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3616: Hurricane Helene |
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4821: Tropical Storm Debby |
| August 5, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3607: Hurricane Debby |
Jobs and pay in Echols County
Echols County had 639 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,193 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Echols County itself the ACS puts it at 1.7%.
Towns near Echols County
- Jasper, FL18.0 mi · 3,621 people · home $78,300
- Bemiss, GA24.5 mi · 8,999 people · home $217,400
- Valdosta, GA24.5 mi · 55,378 people · home $182,800
- Lakeland, GA24.9 mi · 2,875 people · home $148,600
- Live Oak, FL29.4 mi · 6,735 people · home $160,300
Echols County questions
Is Echols County, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Echols County scores better for retirees than 57% of Georgia towns and quieter than 79%. 12.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.5).
How much does a house cost in Echols County?
The median owner-occupied home in Echols County is valued at $124,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,489, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $1,017 a month.
What is the weather like in Echols County?
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 38.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Echols County get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Echols County since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on March 23, 2022. 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)