The Town FilesMcRae-Helena, Georgia
City in Telfair County · population 6,253 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $113,500
- Household income
- $43,618
- Jan low / Jul high
- 38° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 41.3
McRae-Helena is a city of 6,253 people in Telfair County, Georgia. The median home is worth $113,500, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks easier by car than 89% of Georgia towns.
How McRae-Helena 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 McRae-Helena is worth $113,500, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $43,618, which is more affordable than 78% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $713 a month. 54.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | McRae-Helena | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $113,500 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $713 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $43,618 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 54.7% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in McRae-Helena
| People | McRae-Helena | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.3 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.5% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 15.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.0% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 31.5% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 6.2% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 21.0 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 73.3% | 88.0% |
Weather in McRae-Helena
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 38.4°F. About 47.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.1 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 76 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 31 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of McRae-Helena since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on November 2, 2015 about 10.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 9, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 18, 1980.
Severe weather in Telfair County since 1996
Telfair County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, tornado, 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 |
| August 5, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3607: Hurricane Debby |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4501: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Telfair County
Telfair County had 2,068 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,880 a year. Unemployment was 6.6% in 2023; in McRae-Helena itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in McRae-Helena
4 public schools with 1,577 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telfair County Elementary | PK-5 | 829 | 16.3 |
| Telfair County High School | 9-12 | 385 | 13.8 |
| Telfair County Middle School | 6-8 | 342 | 11.0 |
| Telfair Alternative Preparation School | 6-12 | 21 | — |
Towns near McRae-Helena
- Eastman, GA18.5 mi · 5,658 people · home $129,800
- Hazlehurst, GA22.2 mi · 4,088 people · home $145,300
- Abbeville, GA24.5 mi · 2,685 people · home $79,600
- Soperton, GA28.0 mi · 2,889 people · home $69,900
McRae-Helena questions
Is McRae-Helena, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, McRae-Helena scores better for retirees than 48% of Georgia towns and quieter than 63%. 18.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.3).
How much does a house cost in McRae-Helena?
The median owner-occupied home in McRae-Helena is valued at $113,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $43,618, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $713 a month.
What is the weather like in McRae-Helena?
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 38.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.1 inches of snow.
Does McRae-Helena get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of McRae-Helena since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on November 2, 2015. 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)