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Cherokee County

GA · Pop. 274,539 · Urban County

59/100Homestead Score

Cherokee County is an urban county in Georgia, spanning 421 square miles with 274,539 residents at a density of 652.1 people per square mile, a more developed setting where truly rural parcels are scarcer. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, corn, haylage. A median home price of $390,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.7% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 8a with a 220-day growing season, average summer highs of 84°F and average winter lows of 29.8°F. Annual rainfall averages 54.3 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Northside Hospital Cherokee is 1.2 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 98.6% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is very high, wildfire risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 0.7%
Growing Season: 220 days
Broadband: 98.6%
Density: 652.1/sq mi

Pros

  • A long 220-day growing season in USDA zone 8a supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
  • A low effective property tax rate of 0.7% holds annual carrying costs down.
  • Broadband reaches 98.6% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • Northside Hospital Cherokee, with an emergency room, is just 1.2 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
  • A low unemployment rate of 2.8% reflects a stable local job base.

Cons

  • Tornado risk is very high, so a storm shelter and wind-resistant structures are practical necessities.
  • Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
  • A median home price of $390,000 raises the cost of entry relative to more affordable rural markets.
  • The agricultural economy is rated weak, so local farm markets, suppliers, and services are limited.
  • At 652.1 people per square mile, this is a developed area where finding truly rural acreage is harder and pricier.

At a glance

Cherokee County, GA is a solid homesteading option with some tradeoffs.

Homestead score
59/100
Median home price
$390k
Property tax
0.7%
Growing season
220 days (zone 8a)
Annual rainfall
54.3"
Broadband
98.6%
Nearest hospital
Northside Hospital Cherokee, 1.2 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate0.7%
Median Household Income$105,442
Poverty Rate6.5%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$390K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone8a
Growing Season220 days
Annual Rainfall54.3 inches
Avg Summer High84°F
Avg Winter Low29.8°F
Top CropsHay, Corn, Haylage

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought1/10
Wildfire6/10
Tornado10/10
Flood9/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalNorthside Hospital Cherokee (1.2 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities1

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage98.6%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate2.8%
Ag EconomyWeak

Homesteading in Cherokee County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Cherokee County?
Cherokee County is in USDA hardiness zone 8a with a 220-day growing season, average summer highs of 84°F, and average winter lows of 29.8°F. The established crops are hay, corn, haylage.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $390,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.7%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 98.6% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
Northside Hospital Cherokee is 1.2 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.

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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.