The Town FilesFitzgerald, Georgia
City in Ben Hill County · population 9,006 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $99,000
- Household income
- $37,323
- Jan low / Jul high
- 39° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 37.5
Fitzgerald is a city of 9,006 people in Ben Hill County, Georgia. The median home is worth $99,000, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks better transit than 76% of Georgia towns, more walkable than 74% of Georgia towns.
How Fitzgerald 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 Fitzgerald is worth $99,000, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $37,323, which is more affordable than 75% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $670 a month. 53.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fitzgerald | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $99,000 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $670 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $37,323 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 53.8% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.0% | — |
Who lives in Fitzgerald
| People | Fitzgerald | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.5 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.1% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.3% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.8% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 8.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.9% | — |
| Work from home | 3.0% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 14.3 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.3% | 88.0% |
Weather in Fitzgerald
July highs average 92.4°F and January lows 38.6°F. About 47.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 76 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 25 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fitzgerald since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on December 17, 2019 about 4.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 17, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 24, 1988.
Severe weather in Ben Hill County since 1996
Ben Hill County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 30, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4830: Hurricane Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3616: Hurricane Helene |
| August 5, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3607: Hurricane Debby |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4501: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3464: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Ben Hill County
Ben Hill County had 5,736 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,500 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Fitzgerald itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Fitzgerald
5 public schools with 3,008 students, about 14.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fitzgerald High School School College and Career Academy | 9-12 | 874 | 14.3 |
| Ben Hill County Primary School | PK-2 | 872 | 17.8 |
| Ben Hill County Middle School | 6-8 | 618 | 12.4 |
| Ben Hill Elementary School | 3-5 | 565 | 12.3 |
| Hurricane Transition Academy | 5-12 | 79 | 39.5 |
Towns near Fitzgerald
- Ocilla, GA7.9 mi · 3,498 people · home $95,700
- Abbeville, GA19.6 mi · 2,685 people · home $79,600
- Tifton, GA23.5 mi · 17,045 people · home $196,200
- Ashburn, GA23.5 mi · 4,291 people · home $101,000
- Douglas, GA27.4 mi · 11,722 people · home $133,300
Fitzgerald questions
Is Fitzgerald, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fitzgerald scores better for retirees than 39% of Georgia towns and quieter than 58%. 17.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.5).
How much does a house cost in Fitzgerald?
The median owner-occupied home in Fitzgerald is valued at $99,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $37,323, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $670 a month.
What is the weather like in Fitzgerald?
July highs average 92.4°F and January lows 38.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Fitzgerald get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fitzgerald since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on December 17, 2019. 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)