What are the schools like in Harlem, GA?

Harlem is served primarily by Columbia County. The district operates 17 elementary schools, 8 middle schools, and 5 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.7:1.

What is the median household income in Harlem?

The median household income in Harlem, GA is $51,855 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.7%.

What is the weather like in Harlem, GA?

Harlem has an average high temperature of 57.1°F in January and 91.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 47.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.8 inches.

Harlem, GA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Harlem, GA affordable or expensive?

Harlem's cost of living index is 91, where 100 represents the national average. This means Harlem is 9% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $211,700 and the median rent is N/A per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Harlem, GA?

Harlem has a violent crime rate of 24.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 193.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Harlem, GA a Good Place to Live?

Harlem is a small town of 3,682 in Georgia, with a median household income of $51,855 and a 3.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

Strengths: Harlem stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-).

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Harlem is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Harlem 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: 91.0

Harlem's overall cost of living index is 91.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Harlem costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric	Harlem, GA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$211,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	N/A	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	64.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$51,855	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Harlem's violent crime rate is 24.2 per 100,000 residents — 94% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

24.2 /100k

Property Crime

193.7 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Harlem is served primarily by Columbia County. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Harlem, GA	National Avg
School District	Columbia County	—
Elementary Schools	17	—
Middle Schools	8	—
High Schools	5	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	19.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Harlem sees average highs of 57.1°F in January and 91.5°F in July, with 47.2 inches of annual precipitation and 0.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Harlem, GA
Average High — January	57.1°F
Average High — July	91.5°F
Annual Precipitation	47.2"
Annual Snowfall	0.8"

Demographics

Metric	Harlem, GA	National Avg
Population	3,682	—
Median Age	29.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	27.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	68.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	27.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.3%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	33.2%	22.2%
65 and over	12.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Dearing, GA 4 mi Grovetown, GA 6 mi Appling, GA 9 mi Thomson, GA 11 mi Blythe, GA 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Harlem

Harlem, GA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

30814

Harlem vs Other Cities

Harlem, GA vs Dearing, GA Harlem, GA vs Grovetown, GA Harlem, GA vs Appling, GA Harlem, GA vs Thomson, GA Harlem, GA vs Blythe, GA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Harlem, GA affordable or expensive?

Harlem's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes Harlem roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $211,700 and median rent is N/A/month.

What is the crime rate in Harlem, GA?

Harlem's violent crime rate is 24.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 193.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Harlem?

Public schools in Harlem are operated by Columbia County. The district has 17 elementary, 8 middle, and 5 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.7:1. 19.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Harlem, GA a good place to live?

Harlem, GA has a population of 3,682, a median household income of $51,855, and an unemployment rate of 3.7%. 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.

What is the weather like in Harlem?

Harlem averages 57.1°F in January and 91.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.2 inches with about 0.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Harlem?

Harlem, GA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 30814.

What is the population of Harlem?

The population of Harlem, Georgia is 3,682 with a median age of 29.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Harlem?

Key numbers for living in Harlem: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $211,700, median household income $51,855, crime index 8 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Harlem side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.