City profile · Georgia · Census ACS 2023

Tifton, GA

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

17,140
Residents
$44,324
Median income
$161,700
Median home
$973
Median rent (state)

Tifton - the verdict

Nationally, Tifton sits in the 12th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

12th
percentile, household income
31st
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: Tifton, GA

17,140 people live in Tifton, Georgia - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $44,324 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 19.5%. Tifton's housing stock carries a median value of $161,700, and the median resident age is 33.3 years. Educational attainment runs 21.5% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 52.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 92 residential building permits were authorized in Tifton (Construction Slowdown), down 38% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 64.9°F with 48.2 inches of precipitation per year.

Living costs in Georgia run below the national norm: the state registers 96.3 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. 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). Commute times here average 19.9 minutes, with 77.2% driving alone and 6.2% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 56.0 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Moderate).

Population

17,140 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Georgia

Median Household Income

$44,324 /yr

Poverty 19.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

96.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Georgia average

How does Tifton compare to other US cities?

Where Tifton sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 12% higher than other cities
Home value 31% 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

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 Tifton'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.

12thIncome percentile

12th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Tifton's home value compares nationally

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

$161,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 69% 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%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Tifton $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 - Tifton, GA Tifton, GA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Tifton, 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 Tifton, GA median $44,324/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%
Tifton, 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 Tifton, GA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 21.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 19.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 52.0%

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

Population
17,140
Median Income
$44,324
Median Home Value
$161,700
Median Age
33.3
Poverty Rate
19.5%
Labor force participation
52.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
21.5%

Climate

Avg Temperature
64.9°F
Annual Precipitation
48.2"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"

Schools

Total Schools
10
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
16,800 residents17,000 residents17,200 residents17,400 residents17,600 residents17,800 residents 202020212022202320242025 17,079 residents 17,595 residents ▲ +3.0%
Tifton's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
92
housing units authorized
Single-Family
32
detached homes
Multifamily
60
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
5.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 149
2020 85
2021 105
2022 118
2023 102
2024 92

Permit volume decreased 38% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
19.9 minutes
Drive Alone
77.2%
Carpool
12.8%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.8%
Work from Home
6.2%
Other
2.0%

Based on 6,943 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 Tifton 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
56.0 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Georgia

Milledgeville
16,873 people
Richmond Hill
17,408 people
Powder Springs
17,414 people
Buford
17,611 people
Calhoun
17,611 people
Norcross
17,669 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Tifton's 17,140 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Hampton Bays, NY
17,138 people
Avenel, NJ
17,143 people
Laurel, MS
17,129 people
McKinleyville, CA
17,152 people
Addison, TX
17,128 people
Wixom, MI
17,126 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Tifton's $44,324 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Anderson, SC
$44,321 median income
Louisville, IL
$44,318 median income
Binghamton, NY
$44,331 median income
Lauderdale Lakes, FL
$44,333 median income
Noma, FL
$44,333 median income
Sullivan, IN
$44,313 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Tifton, 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 Tifton, GA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 49.2% 33.9% 10.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 14.2% White 49.2% Black or African American 33.9% Asian 2.3% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 4.5% Two or more races 10.0% 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 Tifton 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
Tifton (this city) 17,140 $44,324
Milledgeville 16,873 $39,669
Richmond Hill 17,408 $89,910
Powder Springs 17,414 $96,961
Census ACS 5-year FIPS GA NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Tifton, GA?

What is the population of Tifton, GA? +

17,140 people live in Tifton, GA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Tifton households earn a median of $44,324 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Tifton? +

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

Tifton's median home value sits at $161,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Tifton? +

Tifton has an average annual temperature of 64.9°F, 48.2 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

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