The Town FilesAmericus, Georgia
City in Sumter County · population 16,230 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $107,500
- Household income
- $39,176
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 28.8
Americus is a city of 16,230 people in Sumter County, Georgia. The median home is worth $107,500, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks better for a vacation home than 93% of Georgia towns, better for young professionals than 89% of Georgia towns, better for cycling than 78% of Georgia towns.
How Americus ranks
Percentile among Georgia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Georgia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Americus is worth $107,500, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $39,176, which is more affordable than 75% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $834 a month. 36.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Americus | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $107,500 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $834 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $39,176 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 36.3% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.3% | — |
Who lives in Americus
| People | Americus | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.8 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.9% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.9% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 32.7% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.9% | — |
| Work from home | 9.9% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 17.3 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.8% | 88.0% |
Weather in Americus
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 34.7°F. About 53.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.2 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 60 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 45 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Americus since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on March 1, 2007 about 3.2 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 14 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 17, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 10 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 27, 2005.
Severe weather in Sumter County since 1996
Sumter County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 9, 2026 | Tropical Storm | EM-3657: Hurricane Isaias |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3642: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3616: Hurricane Helene |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4501: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3464: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Sumter County
Sumter County had 9,902 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,522 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Americus itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Public schools in Americus
6 public schools with 4,224 students, about 13.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sumter County High School | 9-12 | 1,036 | 13.8 |
| Sumter County Primary School | PK-1 | 771 | 15.1 |
| Sumter County Intermediate School | 4-6 | 753 | 13.2 |
| Furlow Charter School (charter) | K-12 | 587 | 12.5 |
| Sumter County Elementary School | 2-3 | 541 | 14.2 |
| Sumter County Middle School | 7-8 | 536 | 12.8 |
Towns near Americus
- Montezuma, GA19.5 mi · 3,047 people · home $107,700
- Leesburg, GA23.9 mi · 3,480 people · home $199,200
- Dawson, GA24.6 mi · 4,414 people · home $106,200
- Vienna, GA25.6 mi · 2,928 people · home $120,300
- Cordele, GA27.8 mi · 10,220 people · home $121,500
Americus questions
Is Americus, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Americus scores better for retirees than 23% of Georgia towns and quieter than 18%. 14.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 28.8).
How much does a house cost in Americus?
The median owner-occupied home in Americus is valued at $107,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $39,176, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $834 a month.
What is the weather like in Americus?
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 34.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.4 inches of precipitation a year and 0.2 inches of snow.
Does Americus get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Americus since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on March 1, 2007. The typical Georgia town has had 17.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)