The Town FilesFayetteville, Georgia
City in Fayette County · population 18,957 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $368,200
- Household income
- $82,188
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 42.7
Fayetteville is a city of 18,957 people in Fayette County, Georgia. The median home is worth $368,200, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks more upscale than 88% of Georgia towns, better for cycling than 77% of Georgia towns, better for families than 74% of Georgia towns.
How Fayetteville 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 Fayetteville is worth $368,200, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $82,188, which is more affordable than 17% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $1,720 a month. 69.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fayetteville | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $368,200 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $1,720 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $82,188 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 69.0% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1999 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Fayetteville
| People | Fayetteville | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.7 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.3% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.2% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.1% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 13.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.1% | — |
| Work from home | 11.5% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 32.8 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.3% | 88.0% |
Weather in Fayetteville
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 34.1°F. About 49.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.8 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 51 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 65 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fayetteville since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on March 25, 2021 about 8.6 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 14 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 31, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 78 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on April 25, 1988.
Severe weather in Fayette County since 1996
Fayette County has been included in 15 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 Fayette County
Fayette County had 49,094 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,774 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Fayetteville itself the ACS puts it at 7.4%.
Public schools in Fayetteville
15 public schools with 11,743 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starrs Mill High School | 9-12 | 1,361 | 15.5 |
| Fayette County High School | 9-12 | 1,359 | 14.8 |
| Whitewater High School | 9-12 | 1,347 | 15.5 |
| Rising Starr Middle School | 6-8 | 958 | 14.5 |
| Bennett's Mill Middle School | 6-8 | 877 | 12.7 |
| Whitewater Middle School | 6-8 | 849 | 13.1 |
| Sara Harp Minter Elementary School | PK-5 | 737 | 14.5 |
| River's Edge Elementary School | PK-5 | 692 | 15.0 |
| Peeples Elementary School | PK-5 | 686 | 12.9 |
| Inman Elementary | PK-5 | 677 | 15.4 |
| Spring Hill Elementary School | PK-5 | 645 | 13.2 |
| North Fayette Elementary School | PK-5 | 592 | 13.8 |
Towns near Fayetteville
- Irondale, GA6.6 mi · 8,740 people · home $204,500
- Peachtree City, GA6.9 mi · 38,244 people · home $482,500
- Tyrone, GA7.3 mi · 7,658 people · home $470,400
- Bonanza, GA7.8 mi · 4,406 people · home $204,200
- Jonesboro, GA8.4 mi · 4,235 people · home $188,300
- Riverdale, GA8.7 mi · 15,129 people · home $178,800
- Lovejoy, GA8.9 mi · 10,122 people · home $265,100
- Fairburn, GA9.5 mi · 16,483 people · home $271,800
Fayetteville questions
Is Fayetteville, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fayetteville scores better for retirees than 73% of Georgia towns and quieter than 41%. 22.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.7).
How much does a house cost in Fayetteville?
The median owner-occupied home in Fayetteville is valued at $368,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $82,188, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is $1,720 a month.
What is the weather like in Fayetteville?
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 34.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.3 inches of precipitation a year and 0.8 inches of snow.
Does Fayetteville get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fayetteville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on March 25, 2021. 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)