County · Georgia
Towns County, Georgia
Towns County, Georgia. Towns County had 13,285 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 6.4% since 2020, faster than Georgia (+5.5%). It holds 3 places (2 cities, villages and boroughs and 1 census-designated) and 4 census tracts. GEOID 13281.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
13,285
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 12,493 · ACS 2020-2024: 12,913
Median household income
$59,135
±$7,454 (90% margin)
Georgia: $77,353
Median home value
$316,100
±$25,953 (90% margin)
Georgia: $303,300
Median gross rent
$808
±$113 (90% margin)
Georgia: $1,393
How many people live in Towns County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 12,493 residents in Towns County. The Census Bureau estimates 13,285 for July 1, 2025, up 6.4% since 2020, faster than Georgia (+5.5%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 12,913 over 166 square miles of land.
| Measure | Towns County | Georgia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 12,913 | 10,940,407 | +1,296 |
| Households | 5,924±325 | 4,074,366 | +1,026 |
| Average household size | 2.03±0.11 | 2.62 | −0.17 |
| Housing units | 8,808±26 | 4,541,835 | +579 |
Towns County's population since 2000
From 9,319 in 2000 to 13,285 in 2025: up 42.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Towns County?
Towns County holds 3 places: 2 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 1 census-designated place. The largest is Young Harris with 797 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Young Harris | 1,098 | $31,316 |
|---|---|---|
| Hiawassee | 981 | $45,000 |
| Tate CityGEOID 1375580 | 27 | not published |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Towns County?
The median resident of Towns County is 57.4 years old; 12.5% are under 18 and 36.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 92.9%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 3.3%. 2.0% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Towns County | Georgia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 57.4±1.1 | 37.6 | +3.4 |
| Under 18 years | 12.5%±0.3 pts | 23.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 36.9%±0.5 pts | 15.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.3% | 11.0% | +0.6 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 92.9%±0.3 pts | 49.1% | −1.2 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.4%±0.6 pts | 30.7% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 4.5% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.3%±0.7 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.4 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.0%±0.7 pts | 11.2% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.6%±0.9 pts | 15.5% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 9.6%±1.5 pts | 7.2% | – |
| With a disability | 23.2%±2.9 pts | 13.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 11.5%±2.4 pts | 12.4% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 92.4%±1.8 pts | 89.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 31.0%±3.5 pts | 34.9% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 15.2%±2.5 pts | 13.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.8%±1.0 pts | 2.7% | – |
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 Towns County earn?
Half of Towns County's 5,924 households earn less than $59,135 a year (±$7,454), against $77,353 in Georgia. In 2015-2019 it was $59,343 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 13.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Towns County | Georgia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $59,135±$7,454 | $77,353 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $91,656±$14,628 | $106,944 | – |
| Per capita income | $42,549±$6,578 | $40,924 | +$10,585 |
| People below the poverty line | 13.3%±3.7 pts | 13.4% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 25.7%±10.6 pts | 18.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 7.5%±2.1 pts | 12.3% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 89.1%±3.0 pts | 91.0% | – |
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 Towns County?
Owners occupy 82.3% of Towns County's occupied homes and renters 17.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $316,100 by its owner (±$25,953). The median renter pays $808 a month including utilities, and 50.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Towns County | Georgia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $316,100±$25,953 | $303,300 | +$32,425 |
| Median gross rent | $808±$113 | $1,393 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 50.4%±13.6 pts | 43.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,431±$146 | $1,783 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 82.3%±3.6 pts | 65.7% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 8,808±26 | 4,541,835 | +579 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.8%±1.5 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 13.6%±12.9 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 72.2%±3.6 pts | 66.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 16.6%±3.2 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.2%±0.7 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 2.0%±1.3 pts | 3.9% | – |
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 Towns County building?
Builders took permits for 84 new housing units across Towns County in 2025 (84 single-family), 6.3 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Towns County get to work?
69.7% of Towns County's workers drive alone and 13.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.7 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.6%.
| Measure | Towns County | Georgia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 41.4%±2.7 pts | 63.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.6%±2.6 pts | 5.1% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 69.7%±5.0 pts | 70.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.5%±3.7 pts | 8.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±1.1 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Walked | 5.6%±1.8 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 13.6%±3.3 pts | 15.9% | +9.1 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 23.7 min±2.9 | 28.3 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 are Towns County's census tracts?
Towns County is divided into 4 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $45,819 (Tract 9603.02) to $63,810 (Tract 9602).
| Tract 960113281960100 | 4,710±288 | $63,424 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 960213281960200 | 3,826±388 | $63,810 |
| Tract 9603.0113281960301 | 1,934±272 | $60,106 |
| Tract 9603.0213281960302 | 2,443±310 | $45,819 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Towns County compare with Georgia's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 111th of 159 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 53rd of 159 |
| Residents per square mile | 72nd of 159 |
| Median household income | 73rd of 159 |
| Median home value | 19th of 159 |
| Median gross rent | 103rd of 157 |
| Poverty rate | 113th of 159 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25th of 159 |
| Median age | 2nd of 159 |
Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Towns County 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' school search.