Miller County, Georgia
A shallow water table limits basements on 64% of Miller County's mapped land, a higher share than 77% of US counties. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 3%.
None of the county is in drought on the October 13, 2026 Drought Monitor map. FEMA's flood data list 2 flood losses here since 2016. 51% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1979.
Data as of October 13, 2026 · sources
expansive clay: shrink-swell limits slab homes
high water table: limits basements
in drought, October 13, 2026
of homes built before 1980
Soil under Miller County
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 3.2% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 64.4% |
| Septic fields very limited | 64.7% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 2.0% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 3.2% |
| Mapped soil | 181,500 acres |
How we count · survey areas GA646 (2025-08-28)
What the numbers mean here
On 64% of Miller County's mapped land, soil stays saturated within about 6 feet of the surface for part of the year, which is basement depth.
Rain over the 12 months to August 2026: 38.06 in, 14.67 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 52.73 in.
USDA rates 65% of the land very limited for septic absorption fields.
Drought
0% of the county is in drought (D1 or worse) on the October 13, 2026 map. Part of the county was in drought in 41 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 100% of its area, in 35 weeks, most recently on the June 16, 2026 map.
| Category, October 13, 2026 | Share of county |
|---|---|
| D0 abnormally dry or worse | 16.3% |
| D1 moderate drought or worse | 0% |
| D2 severe or worse | 0% |
| D3 extreme or worse | 0% |
| D4 exceptional | 0% |
Flood losses since 2016
2 flood losses since 2016, $4,164 paid. The worst year was 2018, with 2.
| Year | Flood losses |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 to date | 0 |
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 52.73 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 38.06 in (-14.67) |
| 2025 | 39.83 in (-12.90) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 1964: 79.09 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 1954: 27.98 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at NEWTON 11 SW (17 mi away) | 16.3 |
Homes
| Housing units | 2,856 |
| Median year built | 1979 |
| Built before 1980 | 51% |
| Built 2000 or later | 24% |
| Owner-occupied | 71% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $124,000 |
| Single-family detached | 73% |
What repairs cost
Published ranges from cost guides, not quotes. More sources, and where they disagree.
Nearby counties
| Place | Distance | Expansive clay | High water table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early County, GA | 15 mi | 3% | 36% |
| Seminole County, GA | 18 mi | under 1% | 51% |
| Baker County, GA | 20 mi | 2% | 33% |
| Decatur County, GA | 21 mi | under 1% | 37% |
| Calhoun County, GA | 26 mi | 1% | 39% |
| Mitchell County, GA | 32 mi | 2% | 35% |
| Houston County, AL | 33 mi | under 1% | 63% |
| Grady County, GA | 35 mi | 0% | 46% |
Sources: USDA SSURGO (August 28, 2025) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status