Ideal, Georgia Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 718, Ideal'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

Ideal is a small community located in Georgia, within Macon County. The total population is 718. It ranks as the 442nd most populous out of 669 Census-designated places in Georgia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Ideal is 41.8 years. This is 11% higher than the state median of 37.6 years. With 28.8% of the population under 18, Ideal has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community. 12.5% 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 Ideal is $26,500. This is 66% lower than the state median of $77,353. It is also 67% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 49.9%. This is 273% 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 0.4%. This is 92% lower than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $48,900. Housing costs are 84% lower than the state median of $303,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x, Ideal is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 48.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 26% lower than the state average of 65.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Ideal is Black or African American, making up 84.3% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 15.3%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (15.3%) is well below the state average of 49.1%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (84.3% vs 30.7%). The Hispanic or Latino population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 11.0%.

Education

7.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 80% 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 61.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Ideal, 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.