The Town FilesHartwell, Georgia
City in Hart County · population 4,470 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $165,700
- Household income
- $49,280
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 44.0
Hartwell is a city of 4,470 people in Hart County, Georgia. The median home is worth $165,700, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks hipper than 77% of Georgia towns, more walkable than 72% of Georgia towns.
How Hartwell 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 Hartwell is worth $165,700, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $49,280, which is more affordable than 51% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $728 a month. 57.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hartwell | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $165,700 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $728 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $49,280 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 57.5% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.1% | — |
Who lives in Hartwell
| People | Hartwell | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.0 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.6% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.9% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.7% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 4.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 6.4% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 23.2 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.2% | 88.0% |
Weather in Hartwell
July highs average 88.9°F and January lows 32.6°F. About 51.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.9 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 36 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 49 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hartwell since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 2, 1970 about 2.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 14, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 23, 1955.
Severe weather in Hart County since 1996
Hart County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 Hart County
Hart County had 7,936 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,680 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Hartwell itself the ACS puts it at 0.8%.
Public schools in Hartwell
4 public schools with 3,075 students, about 15.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hart County High School | 8-12 | 1,101 | 16.4 |
| Hart County Middle School | 6-8 | 828 | 14.8 |
| South Hart Elementary School | PK-5 | 581 | 15.3 |
| Hartwell Elementary School | PK-5 | 565 | 14.5 |
Towns near Hartwell
- Reed Creek, GA6.4 mi · 2,724 people · home $342,900
- Royston, GA11.3 mi · 2,649 people · home $220,800
- Elberton, GA17.2 mi · 4,640 people · home $114,900
- Centerville, SC17.2 mi · 7,185 people · home $229,700
- Homeland Park, SC17.3 mi · 6,445 people · home $103,700
- Anderson, SC20.1 mi · 28,106 people · home $218,200
- Northlake, SC20.6 mi · 3,818 people · home $277,700
- Pendleton, SC21.9 mi · 3,489 people · home $250,500
Hartwell questions
Is Hartwell, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hartwell scores better for retirees than 59% of Georgia towns and quieter than 62%. 22.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.0).
How much does a house cost in Hartwell?
The median owner-occupied home in Hartwell is valued at $165,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,280, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $728 a month.
What is the weather like in Hartwell?
July highs average 88.9°F and January lows 32.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.9 inches of snow.
Does Hartwell get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hartwell since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 2, 1970. 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)