Rural lifestyle with modern conveniences in Habersham County
In northeast Georgia’s Habersham County, Mount Airy is a small, rural community at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Established in 1874 by a railroad developer Mount Airy is perched 1,539 feet above sea level, the community sits at the highest elevation on the train route between New Orleans and New York. Today, the Crescent route takes Amtrak train passengers through Mount Airy, though the nearest stop is the Toccoa station, 16 miles away.Outdoor recreational opportunities abound in the Chattahoochee National Forest. Proximity to the hospital is another draw to living in the area: Mount Airy is about 6 miles from Northeast Georgia Medical Center, which received the Patient Safety and Quality Award and the Circle of Excellence Award from the Georgia Hospital Association in 2025. Residents also have access to Interstate 985, which leads 80 miles south to Atlanta. Mount Airy offers a rural lifestyle with homes typically costing less than $500,000, and the area is not far from shopping and dining in the neighboring city of Cornelia.
Mount Airy’s quiet residential streets
Dense patches of trees give homes in Mount Airy a sense of privacy. Ranch-style and New Traditional homes sit alongside quiet streets with no traffic lights, and prices range from about $180,000 to $550,000, depending on factors like square footage. The median single-family home price is about $320,000 for Mount Airy’s population of around 1,500. Average home values have been steadily increasing for the past several years, though they remain below the national average.
Education options in Habersham County
Habersham County Schools serves the area. and the district is rated A-minus overall on Niche. Students may begin at Cornelia Elementary, rated B, or Demorest Elementary, rated A-minus. The Georgia Governor's Office of Student Achievement awarded Demorest Elementary with the Beating the Odds Designation from 2012 to 2018, reflecting the school’s College and Career Ready Performance Index. Students may advance to Hilliard Wilbanks Middle, rated B, and Habersham Central High, rated B-plus.
Outdoor recreation in and around the Chattahoochee National Forest
When it comes to outdoor recreation, residents can gather at Mount Airy Town Park’s playground and covered picnic pavilion. Additionally, across the road, Cornelia City Park’s facilities include tennis courts, a dog park and a walking trail through the trees. However, most outdoor recreation options lie within the Chattahoochee National Forest, which borders the southeast side of the community. Chenocetah Lookout Tower, Georgia’s only fire tower made of granite, stands out amongst the otherwise forested landscape. Built in 1937 to spot wildfires in the forest below, the tower is no longer used and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. “Every now and then, they’ll open it up, but typically, it’s not open,” says Patricia Bower, Team Leader at Keller Williams Lanier Partners who works throughout Habersham County. The tower overlooks Lake Russell, where locals can fish, swim and use the public boat launch. Hiking trails surround the lake and wind through the Chattahoochee National Forest. A one-mile trail leads to Nancy Town Falls, a scenic, secluded spot where water flows gently over mossy boulders.
Cornelia's diverse restaurants and revitalized downtown
Owing to its rural setting, Mount Airy does not have much in the way of commercial offerings, so shopping and dining require a quick trip to Cornelia. “There are a couple of good spots at all price points that people love,” Bower says. “In Cornelia, you have Bigg Daddy’s, Fender’s Diner and mom-and-pop places. Mexican restaurants get a lot of business. Community Brew and Tap offers fine dining, and the people who own it have revitalized downtown Cornelia with their restaurants and community spaces.” Groceries are available at Ingles Market. There’s a Walmart Supercenter and Lowe’s Home Improvement up the road, along with discount stores and retailers like Ross Dress for Less.
Car-dependent Mount Airy with access to major routes
Mount Airy is a car-dependent community. Residents have access to U.S. Route 23 and U.S. Route 441, which both lead south to Atlanta and connect to Interstates 985 and 85, respectively. However, no major highways go through Mount Airy; Dicks Hill Parkway is the main thoroughfare through the community, and it extends into Cornelia. Mount Airy is 90 miles from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
