Gilmer County Courthouse · National Register of Historic Places
Ellijay’s story
Ellijay in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1940.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Explore the history →
EllijayGA
A town of 2,008.
1 bordering townMap →
Photo: Tamparitus · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
2,008
2025 Census estimate · +7.5% since 2020
Typical home
$403K
−0.4% in a year
Household income
$48K
median
Median age
39.2
years
Jobs based here
2,499
A job hub
Is Ellijay a good place to live?
Ellijay’s best subject grades are a B+ for schools and a B for the outdoors; its weakest is a D− for incomes. 26% of residents live below the poverty line in Ellijay, above both Georgia’s towns (15%) and U.S. towns (9.6%). Of the 265 Georgia towns we compare, none has a lower January low than Ellijay. Most errands need a car: it is less walkable than 81% of U.S. towns. Gilmer County Courthouse is on the National Register of Historic Places. Ellijay has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Ellijay stand out
Where Ellijay beats most towns.
A growing town
Ellijay has grown 24% since 2010
1,619 counted in 2010 and 1,862 in 2020; an estimated 2,008 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Ellijay grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Georgia), ordered by how far Ellijay is from typical.
Jobs & incomeD−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.6 of 20; 18.3% of households have no car; 0% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC−Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC−Open →SchoolsB+Open →HealthBlue Ridge Medical Center 16.7 miles awayCOpen →SafetyBOpen →Cost of livingB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors2 miles of trails; 3% conserved landBOpen →History1 place on the National Register; 3 notable people born hereC+Open →Civic life3.5 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateMild winters, 87° summer afternoons, 3″ of snow–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 39.2; 22% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Ellijay: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Ellijay, and how to reach them.
PowerGeorgia Power16.3¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterEllijay-Gilmer Co. Water Auth.No health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNearest public drop-offWhitepath Convenience Center, 5 miOpenStreetMap
Register to voteOnlineIn Georgia you can register online until 29 days before Election Day, in person until 29 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 29 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereGilmer County Board of Voter RegistrationGilmer County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP code3054030540 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Ellijay.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D−
With 3.9 jobs for every working resident, Ellijay draws in 2,378 commuters
Most working residents leave Ellijay for work: only 19% work in town. Ellijay’s median household income is $48,000, below both the Georgia town median ($63,000) and the median of U.S. towns ($80,000). Jobs based in Ellijay fell to 2,499 in 2023, 624 fewer than in 2013.
19%work in town
| Ellijay | Georgia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 19% | 9.1% | 8% |
| Median household income | $48,000 | $63,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 24 minutes | 26 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Ellijay19%
East Ellijay6%
Gainesville4%
Jasper2%
Blue Ridge2%
27 mi
median commute distance
2,499
jobs based in Ellijay
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
C−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 19% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
SchoolsB+
On state tests, Ellijay’s schools beat 68% of Georgia districts
Its public schools are run by the Gilmer County school district. Its two schools are below.
68%of GA districts it outscoresB+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ellijay Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 761 | B+ |
| North Georgia Christian Academy, Inc PrivateLargest high schoolGrades PK–12 | Grades PK–12 | 297 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within GA on state tests and graduation
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C−
Inland flooding leads a high hazard risk in Ellijay
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 71% of U.S. communities. Since 1990, 33 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Ellijay.
71risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesCold waves
33
paid flood claims since 1990
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HealthC
Health in Ellijay trails 68% of U.S. towns
Ellijay beats the Georgia average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 10. 18% of adults 18 to 64 have no health insurance in Ellijay.
32%healthier than U.S. townsCHealth Grade
| Ellijay | Georgia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 14% | 8.1% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 14% | 14% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 34% | 40% | 36% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 14% | 16% |
32 measures vs. Georgia
2 better20 too close to call10 worse
| What stands out | Ellijay | GA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 7.8% | 9.6% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 81.7% | 77.4% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.8% | 7% |
Blue Ridge Medical Center
16.7 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: primary care
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
HousingCost of living grade B−
A typical Ellijay home is worth about $403K
The typical Ellijay home is worth about $403,000, about the same as a year ago, 22% above the Georgia typical home. 35% of Ellijay households own their home.
$403KZillow home value
| Ellijay | Georgia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 35% | 58% | 73% |
| Median rent | $791 a month | $1,154 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Ellijay$403K
Georgia$329K
−0.4%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
Mild winters and pleasant summers in Ellijay
Ellijay has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. Only 3 of the 265 Georgia towns we compare have a lower July high than Ellijay.
3″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter31–52°
Spring45–70°
Summer63–86°
Fall47–71°
Nov 5
typical first frost
Mar 31
typical last frost
+0.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
SafetyB
In Ellijay, violent crime runs lower than in the typical Georgia or U.S. town
The violent crime rate in Ellijay is 0 per 1,000 residents. Ellijay reports less crime per resident than 62% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade. The property crime rate in Ellijay is 7.2 per 1,000 residents.
62%of U.S. towns report more crimeBSafety Grade
| Ellijay | Georgia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0 per 1,000 residents | 2.2 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 7.2 per 1,000 residents | 14.5 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Ellijay0
Georgia3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Ellijay7.2
Georgia14.1
U.S.15.5
62nd
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
0
violent crimes reported in 2025
14
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
OutdoorsB
3.3% of Ellijay is conserved land
1.6 miles of trail in 2 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is Veterans Memorial Park, at 56 acres.
3.3%conserved
| Ellijay | Georgia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.4 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 3.3% | 2.3% | 4.3% |
3.3%
conserved · 76 of 2,303 acres
1.6 mi
of trails · 0.4 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Harrison Park of Ellijay | 1 mi | 21 |
| 2. Veterans Memorial Park | — | 56 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Ellijay
20pages on Ellijay
The big questions
SchoolsB+Beat 68% of GA districts · 2 schoolsSafetyB0 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthCBetter than GA on 2 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingB−$403K typical home · down 0.4% in a yearWork & commuteD−$48K median household income · 2,499 jobs hereNatural hazardsC−FEMA risk higher than 71% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Ellijay; the nearest are
Reinhardt UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Waleska26 mi$30,074 tuitionDalton State CollegeUniversity or college · Public · Dalton30 mi$3,336 in-state tuitionTri-County Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Murphy, NC39.2 mi$2,636 in-state tuition
About 2 of every 100 Ellijay residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Georgia.
A job hub
Every workday, about 2,378 people come to Ellijay for work
Where Ellijay’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
2,499jobs based in Ellijay
19%of working residents work in town
27 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Famous people from Ellijay
3 notable people were born in Ellijay.
About Ellijay
City in Georgia, United States
Ellijay, occasionally spelled Elijay, is a city in Gilmer County, Georgia, United States. Its population was 1,862 at the 2020 census. The city is the county seat of Gilmer County. Agriculture is important in Gilmer County, known as the "Apple Capital of Georgia." The city holds an annual Georgia Apple Festival in October. Former President Jimmy Carter owned a pine-cabin second home in Ellijay. Other tourists are attracted to the mountains and whitewater kayaking.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 3.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,280 ft
- ZIP code
- 30536, 30540
- Area code
- 706
Ellijay’s neighbors
One town shares a border with Ellijay.
East EllijayEllijay
How the neighbors grade
| Town | GA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ellijay | — | — | B− | B | B+ | C |
| East Ellijay | — | — | A+ | C− | B+ | C |
Ellijay and East Ellijay have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. Compare Ellijay with a neighbor →
Questions about Ellijay
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Ellijay, GA expensive?
That is 5.4 years of the area's median household income ($74,499 across the county). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B−.
What is Ellijay, GA known for?
Ellijay has 1 place on the National Register of Historic Places. 3 notable people were born here, including David Ralston and Greg Frady.