City profile · Georgia · Census ACS 2023

Metter, GA

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

3,976
Residents
$36,111
Median income
$149,700
Median home
$973
Median rent (state)

Metter - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Metter lands in the 5th percentile for household income and the 21st percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

5th
percentile, household income
27th
percentile, home value
12th
percentile, median rent
21st
percentile, safety
📝 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: Metter, GA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 3,976 residents in Metter, a small town within Georgia. Metter households earn a median of $36,111 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 18.3%. Home values in Metter run a median of $149,700, and the median resident age is 46.6 years. Educational attainment runs 9.9% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 45.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 9 residential building permits were authorized in Metter (Building Boom), up 200% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: FBI UCR figures show 2615.1 crimes per 100,000 residents, near the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score). NOAA puts Metter's yearly average temperature at 66.8°F with 47.2 inches of precipitation per year.

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). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $973 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $225 across Georgia, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 11.6 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

3,976 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Georgia

Median Household Income

$36,111 /yr

Poverty 18.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

96.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Georgia average

How does Metter compare to other US cities?

Here's how Metter stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 5% higher than other cities
Home value 27% pricier than other cities
Median rent 12% pricier than other cities
Safety 21% safer than other cities

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

Zoom in to just Georgia and the picture shifts: Metter ranks #112 of 165 Georgia cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Metter 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 Metter near the bottom of Georgia's cities

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

Median Household Income
#517 of 610
15th percentile in Georgia
Median Gross Rent
#428 of 638
0th percentile in Georgia
Median Home Value
#333 of 577
42nd percentile in Georgia
Poverty Rate
#207 of 637
67th percentile in Georgia
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#485 of 638
24th 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.

5thIncome percentile
21stSafety percentile

5th percentile nationally for median household income · 21st percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Metter's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Metter's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 36 Avg. percentile National median
Metter's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Metter's home value compares nationally

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

$149,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 73% 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%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Metter $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 - Metter, GA Metter, GA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Metter, 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 Metter, GA median $36,111/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%
Metter, 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 Metter, GA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 9.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 18.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 45.1%

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

Population
3,976
Median Income
$36,111
Median Home Value
$149,700
Median Age
46.6
Poverty Rate
18.3%
Labor force participation
45.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
9.9%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2615.1
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
326.9
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2288.2
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
66.8°F
Annual Precipitation
47.2"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
3,950 residents4,000 residents4,050 residents4,100 residents 202020212022202320242025 4,017 residents 4,076 residents ▲ +1.5%
Metter's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
9
housing units authorized
Single-Family
9
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.3
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 3
2020 2
2021 3
2022 0
2023 10
2024 9

Permit volume increased 200% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
81.0%
Carpool
14.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
2.5%
Work from Home
0.9%
Other
0.9%

Based on 1,506 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 Metter 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
11.6 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Georgia

Rossville
3,981 people
Hawkinsville
3,986 people
Quitman
4,046 people
Hazlehurst
4,072 people
Dawsonville
4,147 people
Harlem
3,793 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Metter's 3,976 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Jackson, LA
3,976 people
Magee, MS
3,977 people
Edgefield, SC
3,977 people
Penrose, CO
3,978 people
Burnham, IL
3,978 people
Colorado City, TX
3,973 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Metter's $36,111 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Grover, NC
$36,111 median income
Delaware, OK
$36,111 median income
Holland, MO
$36,094 median income
Alger, OH
$36,131 median income
Harrisville, MI
$36,089 median income
Willow Valley, AZ
$36,136 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Metter, 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 Metter, GA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 58.2% 27.1% 7.1% 7.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 11.3% White 58.2% Black or African American 27.1% Asian 0.6% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 7.1% Two or more races 7.1% 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 Metter 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
Metter (this city) 3,976 $36,111
Rossville 3,981 $47,791
Hawkinsville 3,986 $37,199
Quitman 4,046 $21,287
Census ACS 5-year FIPS GA FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Metter, GA?

What is the population of Metter, GA? +

3,976 people live in Metter, GA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Metter, the typical household earns $36,111 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Metter? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Metter; 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.

Is Metter, GA safe? +

Metter has a total crime rate of 2615.1 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

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

A typical home in Metter is worth $149,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Metter? +

Metter has an average annual temperature of 66.8°F, 47.2 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, 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.