The Town FilesThomaston, Georgia
City in Upson County · population 9,816 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $211,000
- Household income
- $38,917
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 41.4
Thomaston is a city of 9,816 people in Upson County, Georgia. The median home is worth $211,000, close to the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks more walkable than 90% of Georgia towns.
How Thomaston 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 Thomaston is worth $211,000, close to the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 5.4 times the median household income of $38,917, which is more affordable than 9% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $811 a month. 34.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Thomaston | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $211,000 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $811 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $38,917 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.4× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 34.9% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Thomaston
| People | Thomaston | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.4 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.2% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.9% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 28.1% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 4.2% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 22.9 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.4% | 88.0% |
Weather in Thomaston
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 33.4°F. About 50.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.3 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 62 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 50 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Thomaston since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 13, 2020 about 2.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 14 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 16, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 25, 1988.
Severe weather in Upson County since 1996
Upson County has been included in 23 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 Upson County
Upson County had 7,233 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,658 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Thomaston itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Public schools in Thomaston
4 public schools with 4,086 students, about 14.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upson-Lee High School | 9-12 | 1,202 | 15.4 |
| Upson-Lee Primary School | PK-2 | 1,052 | 14.4 |
| Upson-Lee Middle School | 6-8 | 922 | 14.6 |
| Upson-Lee Elementary School | 3-5 | 910 | 14.7 |
Towns near Thomaston
- Hannahs Mill, GA3.3 mi · 3,121 people · home $154,600
- Barnesville, GA14.9 mi · 6,292 people · home $176,500
- Manchester, GA18.0 mi · 3,584 people · home $135,500
- Griffin, GA24.5 mi · 23,478 people · home $220,900
- Forsyth, GA24.9 mi · 4,384 people · home $274,400
- Experiment, GA27.4 mi · 3,328 people · home $137,500
Thomaston questions
Is Thomaston, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Thomaston scores better for retirees than 41% of Georgia towns and quieter than 21%. 20.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.4).
How much does a house cost in Thomaston?
The median owner-occupied home in Thomaston is valued at $211,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $38,917, so homes cost about 5.4 times income. Median rent is $811 a month.
What is the weather like in Thomaston?
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 33.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.3 inches of snow.
Does Thomaston get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Thomaston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 13, 2020. 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)