Sylvester city, Georgia Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Sylvester city is a small city located in Georgia. The total population is 5,557. It ranks as the 160th most populous out of 670 cities and towns in Georgia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Sylvester city is 42.2 years. This is 13% higher than the state median of 37.4 years. 11.3% 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 Sylvester city is $59,808. This is 20% lower than the state median of $74,664. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 24% lower. The poverty rate stands at 24.9%. This is 85% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.5%. 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 6.1%. This is 19% higher than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $125,000. Housing costs are 54% lower than the state median of $272,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Sylvester city is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 58.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% lower than the state average of 65.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Sylvester city is Black or African American, making up 58.5% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 35.8%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (58.5% vs 31.0%). The Hispanic or Latino population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 10.7%. The Asian population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 4.3%.

Education

16.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 52% lower than the state rate of 34.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 85.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Sylvester city, Georgia is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Georgia state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 670 Census-designated places in Georgia. For official data, visit data.census.gov.