The Town FilesWatkinsville, Georgia
City in Oconee County · population 2,896 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $367,800
- Household income
- $92,147
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 34.1
Watkinsville is a city of 2,896 people in Oconee County, Georgia. The median home is worth $367,800, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks better for families than 97% of Georgia towns, more upscale than 94% of Georgia towns, hipper than 88% of Georgia towns.
How Watkinsville 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 Watkinsville is worth $367,800, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $92,147, which is more affordable than 31% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $1,541 a month. 73.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Watkinsville | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $367,800 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $1,541 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $92,147 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 73.1% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Watkinsville
| People | Watkinsville | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.1 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.4% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 53.2% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.0% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.5% | — |
| Work from home | 10.1% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 22.0 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.4% | 88.0% |
Weather in Watkinsville
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 34.1°F. About 47.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 52 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 45 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Watkinsville since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 28, 1973 about 6.2 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 115 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 3, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 42 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 4, 1999.
Severe weather in Oconee County since 1996
Oconee County has been included in 14 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 Oconee County
Oconee County had 16,112 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,898 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Watkinsville itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Public schools in Watkinsville
5 public schools with 3,618 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oconee County High School | 9-12 | 1,314 | 16.4 |
| Oconee County Middle School | 6-8 | 891 | 14.9 |
| Colham Ferry Elementary School | PK-5 | 598 | 12.2 |
| Oconee County Primary School | PK-2 | 418 | 13.9 |
| Oconee County Elementary School | 3-5 | 397 | 12.0 |
Towns near Watkinsville
- Athens-Clarke County, GA6.5 mi · 127,315 people · home $299,200
- Statham, GA13.5 mi · 2,813 people · home $247,600
- Monroe, GA18.5 mi · 14,928 people · home $259,300
- Madison, GA19.8 mi · 4,447 people · home $347,200
- Winder, GA20.4 mi · 18,338 people · home $288,500
- Jefferson, GA22.2 mi · 13,233 people · home $377,300
- Social Circle, GA23.0 mi · 4,974 people · home $307,300
- Greensboro, GA23.9 mi · 3,648 people · home $194,300
Watkinsville questions
Is Watkinsville, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Watkinsville scores better for retirees than 60% of Georgia towns and quieter than 54%. 12.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.1).
How much does a house cost in Watkinsville?
The median owner-occupied home in Watkinsville is valued at $367,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $92,147, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $1,541 a month.
What is the weather like in Watkinsville?
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 34.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Watkinsville get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Watkinsville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 28, 1973. 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)