Avera, Georgia
Seal of Georgia
Avera · Jefferson County, Georgia
Population 224 (est. 2026: ~400)
Source: Census ACS 2023 · ACS 2023 + 15.62% annual growth projection

Avera, Georgia

Jefferson County, Georgia · Population 223

Avera sits in the rural heart of Jefferson County in east-central Georgia, about eight miles west of Louisville, the county seat. It is a small incorporated city — 223 residents — surrounded by farmland and pine woods in a part of the state where towns are measured in blocks, not miles. The pace is deliberate, the housing stock modest, and the connection to neighboring communities like Wrens and Louisville is practical rather than optional. For schools, hospitals, and most services, residents look outward.

People & Demographics

The ACS 2022 data puts Avera's population at 248, with a median age of 40.6 — slightly older than Georgia's statewide median of around 37. There are 97 occupied households, with an average household size of 2.56. Family households make up 73 of those 97. Children under 18 number 63, a meaningful share of a town this size.

The racial composition is heavily white: 210 of 248 residents identify as white, with 4 identifying as Black. No Asian or Hispanic/Latino residents appear in the ACS estimates.

Jefferson County as a whole holds 15,709 people, making Avera a small node in a county that is itself rural by any measure.

Economy & Employment

The median household income in Avera is $62,750 — a figure that sits above what many rural Jefferson County communities report, though the per capita income of $24,860 reflects the modest earnings structure of a small working-class town. Georgia's statewide median household income runs considerably higher, in the low-to-mid $70,000 range, so Avera falls below the state average.

Of the 248 residents, 122 are in the labor force. Only 4 are recorded as unemployed, giving the town a very low unemployment count, though the small sample size limits how much weight that number can carry. Poverty affects 41 residents — a notable share relative to the total population.

Housing

Avera has 117 total housing units. Of those, 97 are occupied and 20 are vacant — a vacancy rate of roughly 17%, which is high compared to state norms and signals the demographic pressures common to rural Georgia.

Owner-occupancy dominates: 77 of 97 occupied units are owner-occupied, with 20 renter-occupied. The median home value is $56,800 — exceptionally low by any Georgia standard and well below the state median, which exceeds $230,000. For buyers, that affordability is real. For the local tax base and long-term investment calculus, it reflects a constrained market.

Renters pay a median of $890 per month. That figure is notable: in a market where homes sell for under $60,000, a rent of $890 represents a relatively high rent-to-value ratio.

Schools

Students from Avera attend Jefferson County public schools. The active schools serving the area include:

All schools fall under the Jefferson County School District. There are no private or charter school campuses listed within Avera itself.

Getting Around

Avera is a car-dependent town with no meaningful transit infrastructure. Of 113 total workers, 104 drove alone to work. Eight carpooled. No residents used public transit, walked, or worked from home in the ACS estimates.

Aggregate commute time across all workers totals 3,435 minutes. Divided across 113 workers, that works out to roughly 30 minutes of average commute time — consistent with driving to Louisville, Wrens, or Augusta for work. US-1 and nearby state routes connect Avera to the broader Jefferson County road network.

Healthcare

Jefferson Hospital serves Jefferson County. Avera residents traveling to Louisville for medical care cover roughly eight miles. For more specialized care or emergency services with broader capacity, Augusta — home to Augusta University Medical Center — is approximately 50 miles east via US-1.

Local provider lookup: NPI Registry — Avera, GA

Library

The nearest public library is the Wadley Public Library, located 0.4 miles from Avera. Phone: (478) 252-1366. For a town of this size, having a library branch within walking distance is a genuine asset.

Natural Hazards

Jefferson County has been hit repeatedly by named storms, severe weather, and federal emergency events. FEMA declarations on record include:

The pattern is consistent: Jefferson County sits in a corridor that catches the inland remnants of Gulf and Atlantic storms, plus periodic severe winter weather. Residents should take both hurricane season and winter storm watches seriously.

Government & Municipal Code

Avera is an incorporated city with its own municipal code published through Municode: Avera City Code — Municode Library

No local building code is currently listed for Avera. Residents and contractors undertaking construction should confirm applicable county-level or state-level building requirements.

Weather

Current forecasts are drawn from the National Weather Service: NWS Forecast — Avera, GA

Active Weather Alerts — Avera area

The nearest weather observation station is in Louisville, Georgia, 8.1 miles away.

References

The law belongs to the people. Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 590 U.S. (2020)