The Town FilesHarlem, Georgia
City in Columbia County · population 3,571 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $274,500
- Household income
- $46,197
- Jan low / Jul high
- 40° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 34.4
Harlem is a city of 3,571 people in Columbia County, Georgia. The median home is worth $274,500, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks more of a college town than 95% of Georgia towns, better for families than 93% of Georgia towns, easier by car than 74% of Georgia towns.
How Harlem 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 Harlem is worth $274,500, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 5.9 times the median household income of $46,197, which is more affordable than 5% of Georgia towns. 57.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Harlem | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $274,500 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | — | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $46,197 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.9× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 57.6% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1996 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Harlem
| People | Harlem | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.4 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.6% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.7% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.8% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 15.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.5% | — |
| Work from home | 11.7% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 28.0 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 77.0% | 88.0% |
Weather in Harlem
July highs average 93.5°F and January lows 39.8°F. About 44.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.6 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 80 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 20 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harlem since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 10, 2009 about 8.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 3, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 11, 2018.
Severe weather in Columbia County since 1996
Columbia County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4501: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3464: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Columbia County
Columbia County had 39,629 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,681 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Harlem itself the ACS puts it at 2.3%.
Public schools in Harlem
3 public schools with 3,153 students, about 16.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harlem High School | 9-12 | 1,251 | 17.6 |
| Harlem Middle School | 6-8 | 1,003 | 16.2 |
| North Harlem Elementary School | PK-5 | 899 | 15.2 |
Towns near Harlem
- Grovetown, GA6.3 mi · 15,577 people · home $254,300
- Thomson, GA10.6 mi · 6,814 people · home $161,100
- Evans, GA13.6 mi · 34,536 people · home $366,100
- Martinez, GA13.7 mi · 34,535 people · home $246,100
- Augusta-Richmond County, GA14.8 mi · 202,081 people · home $178,400
- Hephzibah, GA16.1 mi · 3,830 people · home $185,700
- North Augusta, SC21.6 mi · 24,379 people · home $233,600
- Belvedere, SC23.2 mi · 5,380 people · home $143,500
Harlem questions
Is Harlem, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Harlem scores better for retirees than 31% of Georgia towns and quieter than 42%. 15.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.4).
How much does a house cost in Harlem?
The median owner-occupied home in Harlem is valued at $274,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,197, so homes cost about 5.9 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Harlem?
July highs average 93.5°F and January lows 39.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.6 inches of snow.
Does Harlem get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harlem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 10, 2009. 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)