Ellijay is a small town of 1,750 in Georgia, with a median household income of $37,227
and a 7.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is
6% below the national average.
Strengths:
Ellijay stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Ellijay is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All 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: 93.7
Ellijay's overall cost of living index is 93.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Ellijay costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.
Metric
Ellijay, GA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$275,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$592
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
28.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$37,227
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Ellijay's violent crime rate is 151.7 per 100,000 residents
— 60% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
151.7 /100k
Property Crime
1314.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
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
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
14.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
82.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
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.
Ellijay's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Ellijay roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $275,500 and median rent is $592/month.
Ellijay's violent crime rate is 151.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1314.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in 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. 14.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Ellijay, GA has a population of 1,750, a median household income of $37,227, and an unemployment rate of 7.8%.
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.
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).
Ellijay, GA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 30540.
The population of Ellijay, Georgia is 1,750 with a median age of 45.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Ellijay: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $275,500, median household income $37,227, crime index 49 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Ellijay side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
