East Ellijay, Georgia Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 488, East Ellijay's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

East Ellijay is a small community located in Georgia, within Gilmer County. The total population is 488. It ranks as the 501st most populous out of 669 Census-designated places in Georgia.

Age Demographics

The median age in East Ellijay is 49.5 years. This is 32% higher than the state median of 37.6 years. Only 15.0% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 18.2% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in East Ellijay is $29,125. This is 62% lower than the state median of $77,353. It is also 64% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 26.8%. This is 100% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.4%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 2.5%. This is 52% lower than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $208,300. Housing costs are 31% lower than the state median of $303,300. The home-value-to-income ratio of 7.2x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 49.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 25% lower than the state average of 65.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

East Ellijay has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 87.9% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 8.8%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (87.9% vs 49.1%). The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 4.5%.

Education

20.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 41% lower than the state rate of 34.9%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 69.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for East Ellijay, Georgia is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Georgia state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 669 Census-designated places in Georgia. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.