The Town FilesGainesville, Georgia
City in Hall County · population 42,296 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $382,200
- Household income
- $66,974
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 33.3
Gainesville is a city of 42,296 people in Hall County, Georgia. The median home is worth $382,200, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks more vibrant than 90% of Georgia towns, better transit than 89% of Georgia towns, more walkable than 82% of Georgia towns.
How Gainesville 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 Gainesville is worth $382,200, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 5.7 times the median household income of $66,974, which is more affordable than 7% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $1,299 a month. 39.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gainesville | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $382,200 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $1,299 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $66,974 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.7× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 39.2% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1994 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.1% | — |
Who lives in Gainesville
| People | Gainesville | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.3 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.8% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.1% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.1% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 4.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 21.8% | — |
| Work from home | 8.8% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 24.0 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.5% | 88.0% |
Weather in Gainesville
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 33.7°F. About 52.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.6 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 35 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 42 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gainesville since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 20, 1998 about 7.4 miles from the town center and killed 10. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 10 deaths and 137 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 2, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 55 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 15, 2010.
Severe weather in Hall County since 1996
Hall County has been included in 20 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 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3616: Hurricane Helene |
| January 12, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4579: Tropical Storm Zeta |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4501: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Hall County
Hall County had 101,986 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $63,932 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Gainesville itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Public schools in Gainesville
35 public schools with 26,648 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gainesville High School | 9-12 | 2,356 | 15.9 |
| East Forsyth High School | 9-12 | 1,590 | 16.9 |
| East Hall High School | 9-12 | 1,291 | 15.6 |
| Johnson High School | 9-12 | 1,287 | 14.3 |
| Chestatee Elementary | PK-5 | 1,216 | 15.2 |
| Chestatee High School | 9-12 | 1,216 | 15.2 |
| North Hall High School | 9-12 | 1,158 | 15.2 |
| South Hall Middle School | 6-8 | 974 | 13.0 |
| Gainesville Middle School West | 6-8 | 894 | 15.4 |
| Gainesville Middle School East | 6-8 | 893 | 15.7 |
| Chestatee Middle School | 6-8 | 849 | 12.7 |
| East Hall Middle School | 6-8 | 833 | 11.6 |
Towns near Gainesville
- Oakwood, GA5.7 mi · 4,822 people · home $306,700
- Flowery Branch, GA9.7 mi · 9,391 people · home $442,500
- Lula, GA12.1 mi · 2,822 people · home $239,400
- Braselton, GA12.6 mi · 13,403 people · home $459,400
- Hoschton, GA14.7 mi · 2,666 people · home $386,300
- Buford, GA15.0 mi · 17,144 people · home $368,700
- Jefferson, GA16.8 mi · 13,233 people · home $377,300
- Raoul, GA17.4 mi · 2,803 people · home $127,500
Gainesville questions
Is Gainesville, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gainesville scores better for retirees than 25% of Georgia towns and quieter than 14%. 14.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.3).
How much does a house cost in Gainesville?
The median owner-occupied home in Gainesville is valued at $382,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,974, so homes cost about 5.7 times income. Median rent is $1,299 a month.
What is the weather like in Gainesville?
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 33.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.4 inches of precipitation a year and 1.6 inches of snow.
Does Gainesville get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gainesville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 20, 1998. 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)