East Ellijay is a small town of 530 in Georgia, with a median household income of $26,691
and a 10.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
East Ellijay stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether East Ellijay is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All East Ellijay 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: 91.5
East Ellijay's overall cost of living index is 91.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in East Ellijay costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
East Ellijay, GA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$167,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$617
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
56.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$26,691
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
East Ellijay's violent crime rate is 277.9 per 100,000 residents
— 27% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
277.9 /100k
Property Crime
2112.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
East Ellijay is served primarily by Gilmer County.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
East Ellijay, GA
National Avg
School District
Gilmer County
—
Elementary Schools
3
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.4:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
24.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
74.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
East Ellijay sees average highs of 47.5°F in January
and 84.5°F in July,
with 59.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 2.9 inches of snow per year.
East Ellijay's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes East Ellijay roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $167,700 and median rent is $617/month.
East Ellijay's violent crime rate is 277.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2112.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in East Ellijay are operated by Gilmer County.
The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1. 24.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
East Ellijay, GA has a population of 530, a median household income of $26,691, and an unemployment rate of 10.7%.
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.
East Ellijay averages 47.5°F in January and 84.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 59.4 inches
with about 2.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
East Ellijay, GA is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 30536, 30539.
The population of East Ellijay, Georgia is 530 with a median age of 50.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in East Ellijay: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $167,700, median household income $26,691, crime index 84 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare East Ellijay side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
