City profile · Georgia · Census ACS 2023

Ray City, GA

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

906
Residents
$42,344
Median income
$118,800
Median home
$1,192
Median rent (state)

Ray City - the verdict

Nationally, Ray City sits in the 10th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

10th
percentile, household income
17th
percentile, home value
36th
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: Ray City, GA

Ray City is a small town in Georgia, home to 906 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $42,344 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 18.1%. Ray City's housing stock carries a median value of $118,800, and the median resident age is 30.4 years. Educational attainment runs 14.3% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 48.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 43 residential building permits were authorized in Ray City (Building Boom), up 617% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data.

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 $1,192 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Georgia's average monthly utility costs around $225 (state average). The average commute for Ray City workers runs 20.4 minutes, with 90.9% driving alone and 9.1% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 6.8 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

906 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Georgia

Median Household Income

$42,344 /yr

Poverty 18.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

96.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Georgia average

How does Ray City compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 10% higher than other cities
Home value 17% pricier than other cities
Median rent 36% 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

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Ray City's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Georgia, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

10thIncome percentile

10th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Ray City's home value compares nationally

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

$118,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 83% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Ray City $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 - Ray City, GA Ray City, GA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Ray City, 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 Ray City, GA median $42,344/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%
Ray City, 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 Ray City, GA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 14.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 18.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 48.4%

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

Population
906
Median Income
$42,344
Median Home Value
$118,800
Median Age
30.4
Poverty Rate
18.1%
Labor force participation
48.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
14.3%

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
900 residents1,000 residents1,100 residents1,200 residents 202020212022202320242025 958 residents 1,132 residents ▲ +18.2%
Ray City's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
43
housing units authorized
Single-Family
43
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
47.5
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 6
2020 8
2021 6
2022 14
2023 11
2024 43

Permit volume increased 617% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
20.4 minutes
Drive Alone
90.9%
Carpool
0.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
9.1%

Based on 318 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 Ray City sits in

Cost of Living Index
96.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,192/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
6.8 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Georgia

Shellman
901 people
Coolidge
900 people
Hoboken
913 people
Pine Lake
915 people
Jeffersonville
895 people
Milstead
917 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Ray City's 906 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Mechanicsville, CT
906 people
Coyne Center, IL
906 people
Lawton, IA
906 people
Mechanicsville, IA
906 people
Troy, MT
906 people
Goshen, OH
906 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Ray City's $42,344 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Walden, CO
$42,344 median income
Clinton, NC
$42,344 median income
Hebbronville, TX
$42,347 median income
Plymouth, PA
$42,348 median income
Mayodan, NC
$42,336 median income
Lost Hills, CA
$42,333 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Ray City, 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 Ray City, GA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 59.6% 22.2% 8.4% 6.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 14.7% White 59.6% Black or African American 22.2% Asian 0.9% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 2.6% Some other race 8.4% Two or more races 6.3% 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 Ray City 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
Ray City (this city) 906 $42,344
Shellman 901 $27,292
Coolidge 900 $55,156
Hoboken 913 $71,094
Census ACS 5-year FIPS GA Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Ray City, GA?

What is the population of Ray City, GA? +

Ray City, GA counts 906 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Ray City, GA? +

Median annual household income in Ray City runs $42,344, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Ray City? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Ray City; 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 Ray City, GA? +

Ray City's median home value sits at $118,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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 Editorial

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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.