Oglethorpe, Georgia Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 869, Oglethorpe'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

Oglethorpe is a small community located in Georgia, within Macon County. The total population is 869. It ranks as the 416th most populous out of 669 Census-designated places in Georgia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Oglethorpe is 53.1 years. This is 41% higher than the state median of 37.6 years. Only 14.7% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 13.0% 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 Oglethorpe is $28,523. This is 63% lower than the state median of $77,353. It is also 65% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 26.2%. This is 95% 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 23.8%. This is 365% higher than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $65,300. Housing costs are 78% lower than the state median of $303,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Oglethorpe is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 69.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% higher than the state average of 65.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Oglethorpe is Black or African American, making up 78.1% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 15.5%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (15.5%) is well below the state average of 49.1%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (78.1% vs 30.7%). The Hispanic or Latino population (1.6%) 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 85.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Oglethorpe, 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.