The Town FilesPelham, Georgia
City in Mitchell County · population 3,507 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $93,800
- Household income
- $39,023
- Jan low / Jul high
- 38° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 37.4
Pelham is a city of 3,507 people in Mitchell County, Georgia. The median home is worth $93,800, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 82% of Georgia towns.
How Pelham 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 Pelham is worth $93,800, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $39,023, which is more affordable than 83% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $773 a month. 46.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pelham | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $93,800 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $773 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $39,023 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 46.3% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Pelham
| People | Pelham | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.4 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.5% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 5.1% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.9% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 8.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 3.7% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 15.7 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.3% | 88.0% |
Weather in Pelham
July highs average 90.4°F and January lows 37.7°F. About 51.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 64 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 33 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pelham since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 20, 2003 about 7.3 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 22 deaths and 409 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 7, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on December 28, 2005.
Severe weather in Mitchell County since 1996
Mitchell County has been included in 19 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 |
| 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 Mitchell County
Mitchell County had 6,477 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,455 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Pelham itself the ACS puts it at 10.5%.
Public schools in Pelham
4 public schools with 1,788 students, about 11.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pelham Elementary School | PK-5 | 608 | 12.9 |
| Shiver Elementary School | PK-8 | 472 | 11.5 |
| Pelham High School | 9-12 | 395 | 11.0 |
| Pelham City Middle School | 6-8 | 313 | 10.4 |
Towns near Pelham
- Camilla, GA8.2 mi · 5,187 people · home $85,400
- Cairo, GA17.4 mi · 10,179 people · home $108,800
- Moultrie, GA21.6 mi · 14,638 people · home $157,200
- Thomasville, GA22.3 mi · 18,881 people · home $205,200
- Putney, GA24.2 mi · 2,869 people · home $134,600
- Bainbridge, GA29.3 mi · 14,468 people · home $174,700
Pelham questions
Is Pelham, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pelham scores better for retirees than 18% of Georgia towns and quieter than 37%. 19.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.4).
How much does a house cost in Pelham?
The median owner-occupied home in Pelham is valued at $93,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $39,023, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $773 a month.
What is the weather like in Pelham?
July highs average 90.4°F and January lows 37.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Pelham get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pelham since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 20, 2003. 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)