County · Georgia
Telfair County, Georgia
Telfair County, Georgia. Telfair County had 11,195 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 10.2% since 2020, while Georgia grew 5.5%. It holds 5 places (5 cities, villages and boroughs) and 5 census tracts. GEOID 13271.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
11,195
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 12,477 · ACS 2020-2024: 11,831
Median household income
$50,929
±$10,351 (90% margin)
Georgia: $77,353
Median home value
$113,300
±$25,740 (90% margin)
Georgia: $303,300
Median gross rent
$712
±$102 (90% margin)
Georgia: $1,393
How many people live in Telfair County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 12,477 residents in Telfair County. The Census Bureau estimates 11,195 for July 1, 2025, down 10.2% since 2020, while Georgia grew 5.5%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 11,831 over 437 square miles of land.
| Measure | Telfair County | Georgia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 11,831 | 10,940,407 | −4,204 |
| Households | 3,351±209 | 4,074,366 | −1,317 |
| Average household size | 2.87±0.17 | 2.62 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 4,705±124 | 4,541,835 | −2,575 |
Telfair County's population since 2000
From 11,794 in 2000 to 11,195 in 2025: down 5.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Telfair County?
Telfair County holds 5 places: 5 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places). The largest is McRae-Helena with 5,443 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| McRae-Helena | 6,253 | $43,618 |
|---|---|---|
| Lumber CityGEOID 1347952 | 967 | $32,841 |
| Milan | 613 | $29,583 |
| ScotlandGEOID 1369336 | 173 | $61,964 |
| JacksonvilleGEOID 1341708 | 111 | $49,375 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Telfair County?
The median resident of Telfair County is 43.2 years old; 16.1% are under 18 and 19.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 48.3%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 35.5%. 6.4% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Telfair County | Georgia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.2±1.0 | 37.6 | +1.7 |
| Under 18 years | 16.1% | 23.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 19.0%±0.7 pts | 15.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 15.0% | 11.0% | +3.6 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 48.3%±0.2 pts | 49.1% | −0.6 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 35.5%±0.6 pts | 30.7% | −3.0 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.2 pts | 4.5% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.4 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.0%±0.5 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.4 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 6.4%±2.6 pts | 11.2% | −5.7 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 12.7%±3.7 pts | 15.5% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.8%±1.7 pts | 7.2% | – |
| With a disability | 19.0%±3.1 pts | 13.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 20.7%±5.6 pts | 12.4% | +10.9 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 77.9%±4.5 pts | 89.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 10.1%±2.7 pts | 34.9% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 4.8%±1.9 pts | 13.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.6%±0.5 pts | 2.7% | – |
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 Telfair County earn?
Half of Telfair County's 3,351 households earn less than $50,929 a year (±$10,351), against $77,353 in Georgia. In 2015-2019 it was $39,881 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 24.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Telfair County | Georgia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $50,929±$10,351 | $77,353 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $63,431±$9,207 | $106,944 | – |
| Per capita income | $20,994±$4,782 | $40,924 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 24.1%±5.5 pts | 13.4% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 32.2%±11.4 pts | 18.3% | −17.7 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 27.9%±6.0 pts | 12.3% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 79.3%±6.0 pts | 91.0% | – |
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 Telfair County?
Owners occupy 64.9% of Telfair County's occupied homes and renters 35.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $113,300 by its owner (±$25,740). The median renter pays $712 a month including utilities, and 45.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Telfair County | Georgia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $113,300±$25,740 | $303,300 | +$33,797 |
| Median gross rent | $712±$102 | $1,393 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 45.0%±13.9 pts | 43.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,519±$465 | $1,783 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 64.9%±6.7 pts | 65.7% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 4,705±124 | 4,541,835 | −2,575 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.9%±1.1 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.9%±5.7 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 61.9%±4.2 pts | 66.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 25.5%±4.4 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.3%±0.3 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 7.3%±2.9 pts | 3.9% | – |
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 Telfair County building?
Builders took permits for 0 new housing units across Telfair County in 2025 (0 single-family), 0.0 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Telfair County get to work?
88.8% of Telfair County's workers drive alone and 5.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 27.2 minutes.
| Measure | Telfair County | Georgia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 35.5%±3.9 pts | 63.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.2%±7.3 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 88.8%±3.3 pts | 70.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.0%±2.9 pts | 8.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±1.4 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Walked | 0.2%±0.4 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 5.0%±1.8 pts | 15.9% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 27.2 min±3.5 | 28.3 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 are Telfair County's census tracts?
Telfair County is divided into 5 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $45,721 (Tract 9501.01) to $52,386 (Tract 9502).
| Tract 9501.0113271950101 | 3,225±430 | $45,721 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9501.0213271950102 | 2,355±313 | $48,681 |
| Tract 9501.0313271950103 | 1,896±284 | $55,833 |
| Tract 950213271950200 | 2,036±614 | $52,386 |
| Tract 950513271950500 | 2,319±612 | $52,317 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Telfair County compare with Georgia's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 116th of 159 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 157th of 159 |
| Residents per square mile | 128th of 159 |
| Median household income | 121st of 159 |
| Median home value | 125th of 159 |
| Median gross rent | 134th of 157 |
| Poverty rate | 21st of 159 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 153rd of 159 |
| Median age | 34th of 159 |
Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Telfair County 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' school search.