City · Georgia
Swainsboro, Georgia
Swainsboro, city, in Emanuel County, Georgia. Swainsboro had 7,436 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 0.1% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 7,425 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 7,571 (±26). GEOID 1374964.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
7,436
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 7,425 · ACS 2020-2024: 7,571 ±26
Median household income
$49,750
±$12,350 (90% margin)
Georgia: $77,353
Median home value
$109,300
±$18,881 (90% margin)
Georgia: $303,300
Median gross rent
$836
±$94 (90% margin)
Georgia: $1,393
Where is Swainsboro and what county is it in?
Swainsboro is a city in Emanuel County, Georgia. It covers 12.6 square miles of land, 590 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Swainsboro, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 7,436 people lived in Swainsboro on July 1, 2025, up 0.1% since 2020, slower than Georgia (+5.5%). The 2020 Census counted 7,425 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 7,571 (±26).
| Measure | Swainsboro | Emanuel County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 7,571 ±26 | 23,026 | +175 |
| Households | 2,550 ±247 | 8,312 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.73 ±0.26 | 2.64 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 3,099 ±266 | 10,036 | no clear change |
Swainsboro's population since 2000
From 6,943 in 2000 to 7,436 in 2025: up 7.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Swainsboro as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Swainsboro?
The median resident of Swainsboro is 32.5 years old; 29.9% are under 18 and 13.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Black residents at 54.1%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 33.2%. 3.5% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Swainsboro | Emanuel County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.5 ±2.9 | 38.3 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 29.9% ±3.5 pts | 24.9% | – |
| 65 years and over | 13.1% ±2.5 pts | 16.4% | – |
| Male | 48.7% ±3.5 pts | 50.9% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 5.3% ±2.5 pts | 4.8% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 33.2% ±4.5 pts | 57.7% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 54.1% ±5.1 pts | 31.3% | −9.1 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.4% ±0.5 pts | 0.9% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.6 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.6 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.0% ±2.8 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.6 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 3.5% ±1.3 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 7.4% ±2.5 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.8% ±1.8 pts | 6.0% | – |
| With a disability | 16.9% ±3.8 pts | 19.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 17.8% ±4.5 pts | 16.0% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 85.0% ±4.2 pts | 79.7% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 13.3% ±3.4 pts | 13.5% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 5.7% ±2.1 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 77.3% ±5.9 pts | 86.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.7% ±1.3 pts | 0.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Swainsboro earn?
Half of Swainsboro's 2,550 households earn less than $49,750 a year (±$12,350), against $52,772 in Emanuel County and $77,353 in Georgia. In 2015-2019 the median was $33,198 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $16,552 after inflation. 29.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Swainsboro | Emanuel County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $49,750 ±$12,350 | $52,772 | +$16,552 |
| Mean household income | $67,173 ±$17,693 | $63,783 | – |
| Per capita income | $23,879 ±$6,032 | $24,843 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 29.0% ±7.5 pts | 25.7% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 41.1% ±13.3 pts | 39.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 35.9% ±8.2 pts | 27.0% | – |
| Households with a computer | 92.0% ±3.1 pts | 90.7% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 88.9% ±4.2 pts | 85.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Swainsboro?
Owners occupy 44.8% of Swainsboro's occupied homes and renters 55.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $109,300 by its owner (±$18,881). The median renter pays $836 a month including utilities, and 24.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Swainsboro | Emanuel County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $109,300 ±$18,881 | $94,700 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $836 ±$94 | $783 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 24.3% ±11.1 pts | 22.5% | −17.5 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,063 ±$183 | $1,162 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 44.8% ±7.7 pts | 60.8% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 55.2% ±7.7 pts | 39.2% | – |
| Housing units | 3,099 ±266 | 10,036 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±4.0 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.2% ±4.5 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 70.0% ±5.8 pts | 56.8% | – |
| Mobile homes | 4.1% ±3.1 pts | 32.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±1.5 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 3.1% ±2.1 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 5.4% ±3.0 pts | 6.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 15.2% ±6.5 pts | 8.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Swainsboro building?
Builders took permits for 0 new housing units in Swainsboro in 2025 (0 in single-family houses), 0.0 per 1,000 residents against 5.4 across Georgia.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Swainsboro work and get to work?
71.2% of Swainsboro's workers drive alone and 9.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 26.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 13.8%.
| Measure | Swainsboro | Emanuel County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 58.0% ±4.8 pts | 56.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 13.8% ±5.4 pts | 8.9% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 71.2% ±7.9 pts | 80.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 12.4% ±6.9 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±1.8 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Walked | 3.7% ±4.1 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 9.1% ±3.9 pts | 6.4% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 26.1 min ±5.4 | 28.5 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Swainsboro?
1 census tract lies mostly in Swainsboro, and 4 more reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9703Emanuel County | 4,609 | $56,406 |
| Tract 9704.01Emanuel County | 3,037 | $40,969 |
| Tract 9706.01Emanuel County | 2,147 | $39,442 |
| Tract 9706.02Emanuel County | 2,677 | $64,602 |
| Tract 9704.02Emanuel County | 1,880 | $53,405 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Swainsboro) · Census block assignment files
How does Swainsboro compare with other places in Georgia?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Swainsboro is the 3,917th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 117th-most populous of 537 in Georgia.
Swainsboro ranks 234th of 348 places in Georgia with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 117th | 537 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 217th | 297 |
| Residents per square mile | 256th | 360 |
| Median household income | 234th | 348 |
| Per capita income | 275th | 357 |
| Median home value | 299th | 346 |
| Median gross rent | 251st | 337 |
| Poverty rate | 58th | 302 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 283rd | 343 |
| Median age | 294th | 360 |
| Owner-occupied share | 302nd | 354 |
| Work from home | 144th | 198 |
| Travel time to work | 183rd | 359 |
Swainsboro's figures with every place in Georgia (CSV)
Every place in Georgia, sortable · Compare Swainsboro with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Swainsboro?
11 of the 57 figures for Swainsboro on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Swainsboro are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Swainsboro.