The Town FilesThomson, Georgia
City in McDuffie County · population 6,814 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $161,100
- Household income
- $42,180
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 38.1
Thomson is a city of 6,814 people in McDuffie County, Georgia. The median home is worth $161,100, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks better for a vacation home than 94% of Georgia towns, better for first-time buyers than 83% of Georgia towns, easier by car than 80% of Georgia towns.
How Thomson 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 Thomson is worth $161,100, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $42,180, which is more affordable than 36% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $848 a month. 48.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Thomson | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $161,100 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $848 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $42,180 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 48.5% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.8% | — |
Who lives in Thomson
| People | Thomson | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.1 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.9% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.3% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 28.8% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 10.2% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 16.8 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 75.6% | 88.0% |
Weather in Thomson
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 33.5°F. About 44.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.4 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 53 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 51 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Thomson since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on March 1, 2007 about 0.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 3 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on January 12, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 11, 2018.
Severe weather in McDuffie County since 1996
McDuffie County has been included in 15 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 |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4501: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3464: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in McDuffie County
McDuffie County had 7,064 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,918 a year. Unemployment was 4.9% in 2023; in Thomson itself the ACS puts it at 0.8%.
Public schools in Thomson
5 public schools with 2,752 students, about 14.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomson High School | 9-12 | 982 | 16.6 |
| Thomson-McDuffie Middle School | 6-8 | 718 | 13.8 |
| Maxwell Elementary School | PK-1 | 456 | 15.7 |
| Thomson Elementary School | 2-3 | 308 | 13.4 |
| Norris Elementary School | 4-5 | 288 | 12.0 |
Towns near Thomson
- Harlem, GA10.6 mi · 3,571 people · home $274,500
- Grovetown, GA16.6 mi · 15,577 people · home $254,300
- Evans, GA21.5 mi · 34,536 people · home $366,100
- Martinez, GA23.0 mi · 34,535 people · home $246,100
- Washington, GA23.2 mi · 3,754 people · home $144,500
- Augusta-Richmond County, GA25.4 mi · 202,081 people · home $178,400
- Hephzibah, GA26.1 mi · 3,830 people · home $185,700
Thomson questions
Is Thomson, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Thomson scores better for retirees than 75% of Georgia towns and quieter than 40%. 15.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.1).
How much does a house cost in Thomson?
The median owner-occupied home in Thomson is valued at $161,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,180, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $848 a month.
What is the weather like in Thomson?
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 33.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.4 inches of snow.
Does Thomson get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Thomson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 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)