De Soto, Georgia Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 99, De Soto's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

De Soto is a small community located in Georgia, within Sumter County. The total population is 99. It ranks as the 641st most populous out of 669 Census-designated places in Georgia.

Age Demographics

The median age in De Soto is 65.5 years. This is 74% higher than the state median of 37.6 years. Only 11.1% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 15.2% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in De Soto is $30,972. This is 60% lower than the state median of $77,353. It is also 62% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 32.3%. This is 141% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.4%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The survey records no unemployed residents in De Soto, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $62,900. Housing costs are 79% lower than the state median of $303,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x, De Soto is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 74.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 65.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in De Soto is Black or African American, making up 61.6% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 22.2%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (22.2%) is well below the state average of 49.1%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (61.6% vs 30.7%).

Education

11.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 67% lower than the state rate of 34.9%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 61.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for De Soto, Georgia is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Georgia state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 669 Census-designated places in Georgia. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.