City profile · Georgia · Census ACS 2023

Ideal, GA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Ideal - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

648
Residents
$24,219
Median income
$53,000
Median home
$973
Median rent (state)

Ideal - the verdict

Nationally, Ideal sits in the 1st percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

1st
percentile, household income
1st
percentile, home value
12th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Ideal, GA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 648 residents in Ideal, a small town within Georgia. Median household income here is $24,219 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 52.0%. Home values in Ideal run a median of $53,000, and the median resident age is 41.9 years. 7.9% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 38.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Living costs in Georgia run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Georgia at 96.3 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Below Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $973 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Georgia's average monthly utility costs around $225 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 32.1 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

648 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Georgia

Median Household Income

$24,219 /yr

Poverty 52.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

96.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Georgia average

How does Ideal compare to other US cities?

Ideal measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 1% higher than other cities
Home value 1% pricier than other cities
Median rent 12% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Ideal against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Georgia only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Georgia-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Ideal near the bottom of Georgia's cities

Among the 638 Georgia cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Ideal ranks #428 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Ideal only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#599 of 610
2nd percentile in Georgia
Median Gross Rent
#428 of 638
0th percentile in Georgia
Median Home Value
#563 of 577
2nd percentile in Georgia
Poverty Rate
#9 of 637
99th percentile in Georgia
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#530 of 638
16th percentile in Georgia

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Georgia only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

1stIncome percentile

1st percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Ideal's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$53,000 Among the most affordable more affordable than 99% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Ideal $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Ideal, GA Ideal, GA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Ideal, GA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Ideal, GA median $24,219/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Ideal, GA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Ideal, GA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 7.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 52.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 38.7%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
648
Median Income
$24,219
Median Home Value
$53,000
Median Age
41.9
Poverty Rate
52.0%
Labor force participation
38.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
7.9%

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
385 residents390 residents395 residents400 residents405 residents410 residents 202020212022202320242025 401 residents 391 residents ▼ -2.5%
Ideal's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
88.5%
Carpool
0.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
5.0%
Work from Home
6.5%

Based on 200 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Georgia - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$125
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Georgia state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Georgia state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Ideal sits in

Cost of Living Index
96.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$973/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
32.1 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Georgia

Pavo
647 people
Pineview
645 people
Screven
652 people
Portal
653 people
Dearing
640 people
Berlin
639 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Ideal's 648 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Murray, IA
648 people
Hindman, KY
648 people
Loudon, NH
648 people
Belfast, NY
648 people
Crystal Beach, NY
648 people
Freedom Plains, NY
648 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Ideal's $24,219 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Nellieburg, MS
$24,227 median income
Ceiba comunidad, PR
$24,240 median income
Bradley, OK
$24,196 median income
Hernandez, NM
$24,259 median income
Oak Run, CA
$24,160 median income
Bernice, LA
$24,278 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Ideal, GA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Ideal, GA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 15.7% 84.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 15.7% Black or African American 84.3% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 0.0% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Ideal compares to nearby Georgia cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Ideal (this city) 648 $24,219
Pavo 647 $43,750
Pineview 645 $27,798
Screven 652 $33,750
Census ACS 5-year FIPS GA OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Ideal, GA?

What is the population of Ideal, GA? +

Ideal, GA has a population of 648 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Ideal, GA? +

The median household income in Ideal is $24,219 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Ideal? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Ideal; the closest available measure is the Georgia state average, a cost of living index of 96.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Georgia vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Ideal, GA? +

Homes in Ideal carry a median value of $53,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.