The Town FilesLake City, Georgia
City in Clayton County · population 2,952 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $192,500
- Household income
- $54,464
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 32
- Median age
- 45.5
Lake City is a city of 2,952 people in Clayton County, Georgia. The median home is worth $192,500, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 95% of Georgia towns, better transit than 94% of Georgia towns, more walkable than 91% of Georgia towns.
How Lake City 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 Lake City is worth $192,500, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $54,464, which is more affordable than 47% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $1,133 a month. 53.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake City | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $192,500 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $1,133 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $54,464 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 53.0% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Lake City
| People | Lake City | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.5 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.1% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 14.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.7% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.1% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 2.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 41.0% | — |
| Work from home | 10.7% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 24.6 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.9% | 88.0% |
Weather in Lake City
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 32.3°F. About 52.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.8 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 59 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 49 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake City since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on January 10, 1972 about 5.1 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 96 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 16, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 86 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on April 25, 1988.
Severe weather in Clayton County since 1996
Clayton County has been included in 16 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 Clayton County
Clayton County had 130,345 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $77,005 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Lake City itself the ACS puts it at 1.9%.
Public schools in Lake City
3 public schools with 1,111 students, about 14.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake City Elementary School | PK-5 | 471 | 13.9 |
| Utopian Academy for the Arts Charter School (charter) | 6-8 | 372 | 14.3 |
| Utopian Academy for the Arts Elementary School (charter) | K-5 | 268 | 17.9 |
Towns near Lake City
- Forest Park, GA1.4 mi · 19,932 people · home $143,400
- Morrow, GA2.0 mi · 6,569 people · home $224,700
- Conley, GA2.5 mi · 6,680 people · home $183,000
- Riverdale, GA5.0 mi · 15,129 people · home $178,800
- Hapeville, GA5.4 mi · 6,553 people · home $312,100
- Jonesboro, GA6.0 mi · 4,235 people · home $188,300
- Gresham Park, GA7.1 mi · 7,700 people · home $297,800
- College Park, GA7.4 mi · 13,930 people · home $325,800
Lake City questions
Is Lake City, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake City scores better for retirees than 4% of Georgia towns and quieter than 3%. 16.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.5).
How much does a house cost in Lake City?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake City is valued at $192,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,464, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,133 a month.
What is the weather like in Lake City?
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 32.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.9 inches of precipitation a year and 0.8 inches of snow.
Does Lake City get tornadoes?
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on January 10, 1972. 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)