Cornelia is a small town of 4,648 in Georgia, with a median household income of $46,211
and a 1.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is
6% below the national average.
Strengths:
Cornelia stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B).
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Cornelia is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Cornelia 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: 94.5
Cornelia's overall cost of living index is 94.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Cornelia costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.
Metric
Cornelia, GA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$170,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$889
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
58.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$46,211
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Cornelia'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
Cornelia is served primarily by Habersham County.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.1:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Cornelia, 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
20.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
69.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Cornelia sees average highs of 49.3°F in January
and 85.6°F in July,
with 58.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.6 inches of snow per year.
Cornelia's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Cornelia roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $170,800 and median rent is $889/month.
Cornelia'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 Cornelia 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. 20.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Cornelia, GA has a population of 4,648, a median household income of $46,211, and an unemployment rate of 1.2%.
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.
Cornelia averages 49.3°F in January and 85.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 58.9 inches
with about 0.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Cornelia, GA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 30531.
The population of Cornelia, Georgia is 4,648 with a median age of 30.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Cornelia: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $170,800, median household income $46,211, 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 Cornelia side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
