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Clarke County

GA · Pop. 129,267 · Urban County

65/100Homestead Score

Clarke County, Georgia covers 119 square miles with a population of 129,267 and a density of 1086.3 people per square mile, a more developed setting where truly rural parcels are scarcer. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay. A median home price of $272,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.9% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 8b with a 231-day growing season, average summer highs of 90°F and average winter lows of 34.8°F. Annual rainfall averages 46.3 inches, and with drought risk rated high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center is 1.9 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 97.5% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is very high, drought risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 0.9%
Growing Season: 231 days
Broadband: 97.5%
Density: 1086.3/sq mi

Pros

  • A long 231-day growing season in USDA zone 8b supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
  • A low effective property tax rate of 0.9% holds annual carrying costs down.
  • Broadband reaches 97.5% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center, with an emergency room, is just 1.9 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
  • A low unemployment rate of 3.3% 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 poverty rate of 25.9% reflects a constrained local economy with limited off-farm income options.
  • The agricultural economy is rated weak, so local farm markets, suppliers, and services are limited.
  • At 1086.3 people per square mile, this is a developed area where finding truly rural acreage is harder and pricier.

At a glance

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

Homestead score
65/100
Median home price
$272k
Property tax
0.9%
Growing season
231 days (zone 8b)
Annual rainfall
46.3"
Broadband
97.5%
Nearest hospital
Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center, 1.9 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate0.9%
Median Household Income$52,267
Poverty Rate25.9%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$272K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone8b
Growing Season231 days
Annual Rainfall46.3 inches
Avg Summer High90°F
Avg Winter Low34.8°F
Top CropsHay

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought5/10
Wildfire3/10
Tornado8/10
Flood8/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalPiedmont Athens Regional Medical Center (1.9 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities3

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage97.5%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate3.3%
Ag EconomyWeak

Homesteading in Clarke County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Clarke County?
Clarke County is in USDA hardiness zone 8b with a 231-day growing season, average summer highs of 90°F, and average winter lows of 34.8°F. The established crops are hay.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $272,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.9%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 97.5% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center is 1.9 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 3 hospitals 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.