The Town FilesSwainsboro, Georgia
City in Emanuel County · population 7,425 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $109,300
- Household income
- $49,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 32.5
Swainsboro is a city of 7,425 people in Emanuel County, Georgia. The median home is worth $109,300, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks better transit than 72% of Georgia towns.
How Swainsboro 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 Swainsboro is worth $109,300, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $49,750, which is more affordable than 88% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $836 a month. 44.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Swainsboro | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $109,300 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $836 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $49,750 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 44.8% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.5% | — |
Who lives in Swainsboro
| People | Swainsboro | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.5 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.1% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 29.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.3% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 29.0% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 4.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.5% | — |
| Work from home | 9.1% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 26.1 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.9% | 88.0% |
Weather in Swainsboro
July highs average 92.7°F and January lows 34.7°F. About 49.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.2 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 94 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 50 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Swainsboro since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 28, 1963 about 2.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 6, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 5, 2007.
Severe weather in Emanuel County since 1996
Emanuel County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3642: Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
| September 7, 2023 | Hurricane | DR-4738: Hurricane Idalia |
Jobs and pay in Emanuel County
Emanuel County had 7,062 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,582 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Swainsboro itself the ACS puts it at 13.8%.
Public schools in Swainsboro
4 public schools with 2,904 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swainsboro Primary School | PK-2 | 858 | 14.1 |
| Swainsboro High School | 9-12 | 813 | 13.1 |
| Swainsboro Elementary School | 3-5 | 617 | 13.1 |
| Swainsboro Middle School | 6-8 | 616 | 13.7 |
Towns near Swainsboro
- Metter, GA20.6 mi · 4,004 people · home $156,300
- Soperton, GA20.8 mi · 2,889 people · home $69,900
- Wrightsville, GA24.4 mi · 3,449 people · home $65,400
- Vidalia, GA26.1 mi · 10,785 people · home $158,500
- Lyons, GA26.3 mi · 4,239 people · home $122,000
- Millen, GA27.5 mi · 2,966 people · home $86,300
Swainsboro questions
Is Swainsboro, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Swainsboro scores better for retirees than 38% of Georgia towns and quieter than 53%. 13.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.5).
How much does a house cost in Swainsboro?
The median owner-occupied home in Swainsboro is valued at $109,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,750, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $836 a month.
What is the weather like in Swainsboro?
July highs average 92.7°F and January lows 34.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.2 inches of snow.
Does Swainsboro get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Swainsboro since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 28, 1963. 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)