The Town FilesRiverdale, Georgia
City in Clayton County · population 15,129 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $178,800
- Household income
- $63,455
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 32
- Median age
- 37.3
Riverdale is a city of 15,129 people in Clayton County, Georgia. The median home is worth $178,800, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks better transit than 95% of Georgia towns, better for first-time buyers than 92% of Georgia towns, more walkable than 88% of Georgia towns.
How Riverdale 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 Riverdale is worth $178,800, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $63,455, which is more affordable than 73% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $1,360 a month. 50.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Riverdale | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $178,800 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $1,360 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $63,455 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 50.2% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Riverdale
| People | Riverdale | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.3 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.9% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.3% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.4% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 8.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 16.4% | — |
| Work from home | 11.9% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 28.3 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.5% | 88.0% |
Weather in Riverdale
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 Riverdale 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 7.4 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 70 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 31, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 89 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 Riverdale itself the ACS puts it at 5%.
Public schools in Riverdale
11 public schools with 9,251 students, about 15.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charles R. Drew High School | 9-12 | 1,665 | 17.3 |
| Dubois Integrity Academy (charter) | K-8 | 1,408 | 17.6 |
| Riverdale High School | 9-12 | 1,299 | 17.8 |
| Sequoyah Middle School | 6-8 | 796 | 16.6 |
| Harper Elementary School | PK-5 | 702 | 13.2 |
| Church Street Elementary School | PK-5 | 697 | 16.6 |
| Riverdale Middle School | 6-8 | 593 | 15.2 |
| Riverdale Elementary School | PK-5 | 572 | 12.4 |
| Pointe South Elementary School | PK-5 | 539 | 15.4 |
| Oliver Elementary School | PK-5 | 495 | 13.8 |
| Lake Ridge Elementary School | PK-5 | 485 | 11.5 |
Towns near Riverdale
- Jonesboro, GA4.4 mi · 4,235 people · home $188,300
- Morrow, GA4.5 mi · 6,569 people · home $224,700
- Forest Park, GA5.0 mi · 19,932 people · home $143,400
- Lake City, GA5.0 mi · 2,952 people · home $192,500
- Irondale, GA6.2 mi · 8,740 people · home $204,500
- College Park, GA6.2 mi · 13,930 people · home $325,800
- Hapeville, GA6.7 mi · 6,553 people · home $312,100
- Conley, GA7.0 mi · 6,680 people · home $183,000
Riverdale questions
Is Riverdale, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Riverdale scores better for retirees than 3% of Georgia towns and quieter than 2%. 11.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.3).
How much does a house cost in Riverdale?
The median owner-occupied home in Riverdale is valued at $178,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,455, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $1,360 a month.
What is the weather like in Riverdale?
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 Riverdale get tornadoes?
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Riverdale 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)