City · Georgia
Ellijay, Georgia
Ellijay, city, in Gilmer County, Georgia. Ellijay had 2,008 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 7.5% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,862 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,927 (±424). GEOID 1327092.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
2,008
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,862 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,927 ±424
Median household income
$48,136
±$14,607 (90% margin)
Georgia: $77,353
Median home value
$349,100
±$66,150 (90% margin)
Georgia: $303,300
Median gross rent
$791
±$270 (90% margin)
Georgia: $1,393
Where is Ellijay and what county is it in?
Ellijay is a city in Gilmer County, Georgia. It covers 3.6 square miles of land, 518 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Ellijay, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 2,008 people lived in Ellijay on July 1, 2025, up 7.5% since 2020, faster than Georgia (+5.5%). The 2020 Census counted 1,862 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,927 (±424).
| Measure | Ellijay | Gilmer County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,927 ±424 | 32,426 | no clear change |
| Households | 820 ±203 | 13,015 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.26 ±0.37 | 2.47 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 879 ±204 | 18,507 | no clear change |
Ellijay's population since 2000
From 1,584 in 2000 to 2,008 in 2025: up 26.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Ellijay as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Ellijay?
The median resident of Ellijay is 39.2 years old; 24.5% are under 18 and 25.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 65.0%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 28.9%. 11.2% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Ellijay | Gilmer County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.2 ±8.4 | 50.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 24.5% ±7.1 pts | 18.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 25.4% ±7.3 pts | 27.0% | – |
| Male | 42.4% ±6.1 pts | 50.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 28.9% ±13.3 pts | 12.3% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 65.0% ±13.1 pts | 83.6% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 2.4% ±1.6 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.4 pts | 0.5% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.6 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.4 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.3% ±2.6 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.4 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 11.2% ±6.4 pts | 5.2% | −13.0 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 25.6% ±12.7 pts | 9.9% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.5% ±2.9 pts | 10.2% | – |
| With a disability | 18.4% ±8.1 pts | 18.7% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 21.8% ±10.0 pts | 14.6% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 87.9% ±6.6 pts | 87.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 21.6% ±6.7 pts | 24.9% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 5.1% ±2.4 pts | 9.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 84.5% ±6.4 pts | 90.6% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.5% ±1.6 pts | 2.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Ellijay earn?
Half of Ellijay's 820 households earn less than $48,136 a year (±$14,607), against $74,499 in Gilmer County and $77,353 in Georgia. In 2015-2019 it was $59,577 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 26.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Ellijay | Gilmer County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $48,136 ±$14,607 | $74,499 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $69,002 ±$13,615 | $87,676 | – |
| Per capita income | $29,888 ±$5,390 | $35,067 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 26.2% ±12.9 pts | 16.0% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 37.7% ±27.1 pts | 21.9% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 22.1% ±10.9 pts | 9.6% | – |
| Households with a computer | 90.4% ±4.9 pts | 95.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 76.1% ±12.0 pts | 90.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Ellijay?
Owners occupy 35.4% of Ellijay's occupied homes and renters 64.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $349,100 by its owner (±$66,150). The median renter pays $791 a month including utilities, and 43.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Ellijay | Gilmer County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $349,100 ±$66,150 | $314,000 | +$136,190 |
| Median gross rent | $791 ±$270 | $998 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 43.4% ±15.6 pts | 37.0% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,156 ±$321 | $1,482 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 35.4% ±9.6 pts | 80.7% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 64.6% ±9.6 pts | 19.3% | – |
| Housing units | 879 ±204 | 18,507 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 3.0% ±4.4 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±8.4 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 54.6% ±11.6 pts | 80.9% | – |
| Mobile homes | 4.2% ±3.1 pts | 14.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 4.6% ±2.8 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 2.5% ±2.1 pts | 9.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 6.0% ±3.7 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 18.3% ±11.3 pts | 2.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Ellijay building?
Builders took permits for 71 new housing units in Ellijay in 2025 (21 in single-family houses; the permit office reported 11 of 12 months), 35.4 per 1,000 residents against 5.4 across Georgia.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Ellijay work and get to work?
62.5% of Ellijay's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 24.1 minutes.
| Measure | Ellijay | Gilmer County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 49.9% ±8.8 pts | 52.6% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.3% ±8.0 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 62.5% ±14.4 pts | 77.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 32.8% ±14.4 pts | 11.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±7.1 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Walked | 0.0% ±7.1 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 4.7% ±4.8 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 24.1 min ±3.2 | 28.9 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Ellijay?
1 census tract lies mostly in Ellijay, and 7 more reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 803.02Gilmer County | 4,360 | $49,866 |
| Tract 803.01Gilmer County | 2,326 | $72,344 |
| Tract 804.01Gilmer County | 2,855 | $70,536 |
| Tract 804.02Gilmer County | 4,409 | $83,087 |
| Tract 802Gilmer County | 6,105 | $65,997 |
| Tract 805Gilmer County | 4,359 | $71,359 |
| Tract 801Gilmer County | 4,602 | $79,229 |
| Tract 804.03Gilmer County | 3,410 | $92,701 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Ellijay) · Census block assignment files
How does Ellijay compare with other places in Georgia?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Ellijay is the 7,666th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 244th-most populous of 537 in Georgia.
Ellijay ranks 245th of 348 places in Georgia with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 244th | 537 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 95th | 297 |
| Residents per square mile | 281st | 360 |
| Median household income | 245th | 348 |
| Per capita income | 181st | 357 |
| Median home value | 67th | 346 |
| Median gross rent | 264th | 337 |
| Poverty rate | 81st | 302 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 186th | 343 |
| Median age | 124th | 360 |
| Owner-occupied share | 344th | 354 |
| Travel time to work | 223rd | 359 |
Ellijay's figures with every place in Georgia (CSV)
Every place in Georgia, sortable · Compare Ellijay with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Ellijay?
16 of the 57 figures for Ellijay on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Ellijay are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Ellijay.