Burke County
GA · Pop. 24,427 · Suburban County
Burke County is a suburban county in Georgia, spanning 827 square miles with 24,427 residents at a density of 29.5 people per square mile, so rural land and genuine privacy are available. The agricultural economy is rated strong, built on cotton, corn, peanuts. The median home price is $108,000, with an effective property tax rate of 0.91%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 8b with a 237-day growing season, average summer highs of 91.1°F and average winter lows of 35.6°F. Annual rainfall averages 47.8 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Burke Medical Center is 1.8 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 93.3% of homes. On the hazard side, tornado risk is high, wildfire risk is high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A long 237-day growing season in USDA zone 8b supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.91% holds annual carrying costs down.
- A median home price of $108,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- Broadband reaches 93.3% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Burke Medical Center, with an emergency room, is just 1.8 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
Cons
- Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
- A poverty rate of 19.2% reflects a constrained local economy with limited off-farm income options.
- Wildfire risk is high, so defensible space and fire preparedness should be part of any build plan.
At a glance
Burke County, GA is a strong overall fit for homesteading.
- Homestead score
- 90/100
- Median home price
- $108k
- Property tax
- 0.91%
- Growing season
- 237 days (zone 8b)
- Annual rainfall
- 47.8"
- Broadband
- 93.3%
- Nearest hospital
- Burke Medical Center, 1.8 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Burke County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Burke County?
- Burke County is in USDA hardiness zone 8b with a 237-day growing season, average summer highs of 91.1°F, and average winter lows of 35.6°F. The established crops are cotton, corn, peanuts.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $108,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.91%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 93.3% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Burke Medical Center is 1.8 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.
Explore Georgia Resources
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LandWatch
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Lands of America
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AcreTrader
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More counties in Georgia
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Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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