Aerial photograph of the town of Clarkesville, Clarkesville, Habersham County, Georgia, 1953 - DPLA - c37f9c4ea7e5ba8f7fde974b60e3eed43003 · Wikimedia Commons / Public domain
Clarkesville is a small town of 1,885 in Georgia, with a median household income of $64,848
and a 2.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Clarkesville stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Clarkesville is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Clarkesville city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 93.2
Clarkesville's overall cost of living index is 93.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Clarkesville costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Clarkesville, GA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$178,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$737
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
64.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$64,848
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Clarkesville's violent crime rate is 97.1 per 100,000 residents
— 74% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
97.1 /100k
Property Crime
745.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Clarkesville is served primarily by Habersham County.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.1:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Clarkesville, GA
National Avg
School District
Habersham County
—
Elementary Schools
8
—
Middle Schools
3
—
High Schools
3
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.1:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
31.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
88.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Clarkesville sees average highs of 51.4°F in January
and 88.2°F in July,
with 61.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 1.3 inches of snow per year.
Clarkesville's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Clarkesville roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $178,000 and median rent is $737/month.
Clarkesville's violent crime rate is 97.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 745.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Clarkesville are operated by Habersham County.
The district has 8 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.1:1. 31.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Clarkesville, GA has a population of 1,885, a median household income of $64,848, and an unemployment rate of 2.7%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Clarkesville averages 51.4°F in January and 88.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 61.8 inches
with about 1.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Clarkesville, Georgia is 1,885 with a median age of 47.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Clarkesville: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $178,000, median household income $64,848, crime index 30 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Clarkesville side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
