Folkston, Georgia Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Folkston, Georgia had a total population of 4,631, the 185th largest city in Georgia, with a median household income of $50,116, which is 35% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 28.8%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 35% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (28.8%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
- Only 5.5% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.6x.
- Unemployment rate of 27.4% is notably above the national average.
Folkston Quick Facts
How Folkston Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,609 | 4,631 | +0.5% |
| Median household income | $45,453 | $50,116 | +10.3% |
| Median home value | $76,800 | $78,100 | +1.7% |
How Folkston Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.
State average: 65 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Folkston Rankings in Georgia
Explore Georgia Rankings
Other Cities in Charlton County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homeland | 755 | $48,000 | 16.2% | $73,100 |
Cities Similar to Folkston
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elberton | 4,720 | $50,059 | $114,900 | 17.6% | 25.7% |
| Jasper | 4,630 | $52,442 | $282,500 | 17.8% | 27.2% |
| Hartwell | 4,562 | $49,280 | $165,700 | 14.9% | 12.7% |
| Chattanooga Valley | 4,601 | $52,813 | $205,300 | 23.4% | 31.0% |
| Lakeview | 4,723 | $61,405 | $171,700 | 20.2% | 13.1% |
Population Overview
Folkston is a small community located in Georgia, within Charlton County. The total population is 4,631. It ranks as the 185th most populous out of 669 Census-designated places in Georgia.
Age Demographics
The median age in Folkston is 39.2 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 37.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Folkston is $50,116. This is 35% lower than the state median of $77,353. It is also 38% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 28.8%. This is 115% 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 unemployment rate is 27.4%. This is 434% higher than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $78,100. Housing costs are 74% lower than the state median of $303,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.6x, Folkston is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 66.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Folkston is Black or African American, making up 48.7% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 40.3%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (48.7% vs 30.7%). The Hispanic or Latino population (3.3%) is well below the state average of 11.0%.
Education
5.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 84% 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 76.5%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Folkston, 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.
Free data download: Get all Georgia city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Folkston, Georgia?
Folkston, Georgia has a population of 4,631 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Folkston, GA?
The median household income in Folkston is $50,116, which is 38% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Folkston, GA?
The poverty rate in Folkston is 28.8%. This means approximately 1,168 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Folkston, Georgia?
Folkston's population is 40.3% White, 48.7% Black, 3.3% Hispanic/Latino, and 2.9% Asian.
What is the median home value in Folkston, GA?
The median home value in Folkston is $78,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.6x.
How educated is Folkston, Georgia?
5.5% of adults (25+) in Folkston hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 2.5% hold a graduate or professional degree.