The Town FilesTifton, Georgia
City in Tift County · population 17,045 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $196,200
- Household income
- $45,298
- Jan low / Jul high
- 37° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 34.8
Tifton is a city of 17,045 people in Tift County, Georgia. The median home is worth $196,200, close to the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks better for cycling than 94% of Georgia towns, better for young professionals than 85% of Georgia towns, more vibrant than 82% of Georgia towns.
How Tifton 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 Tifton is worth $196,200, close to the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $45,298, which is more affordable than 23% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $798 a month. 40.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tifton | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $196,200 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $798 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $45,298 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 40.6% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Tifton
| People | Tifton | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.8 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.5% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.1% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.5% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 4.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.7% | — |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 19.3 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.7% | 88.0% |
Weather in Tifton
July highs average 90.0°F and January lows 36.6°F. About 48.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 74 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 30 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tifton since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on February 14, 2000 about 8.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 13, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 24, 1988.
Severe weather in Tift County since 1996
Tift County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 30, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4830: Hurricane Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3616: Hurricane Helene |
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4821: Tropical Storm Debby |
| August 5, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3607: Hurricane Debby |
| September 7, 2023 | Hurricane | DR-4738: Hurricane Idalia |
Jobs and pay in Tift County
Tift County had 22,007 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,544 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Tifton itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Public schools in Tifton
10 public schools with 7,311 students, about 14.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tift County High School | 9-12 | 2,266 | 17.3 |
| Eighth Street Middle School | 6-8 | 925 | 14.0 |
| Annie Belle Clark Elementary School | PK-5 | 788 | 15.2 |
| Northeast Middle School | 6-8 | 739 | 12.7 |
| G. O. Bailey Elementary School | PK-5 | 549 | 13.7 |
| Len Lastinger Elementary School | PK-5 | 450 | 14.5 |
| Northside Elementary School | PK-5 | 445 | 13.9 |
| Matt Wilson Elementary School | PK-5 | 408 | 14.1 |
| Charles Spencer Elementary School | PK-5 | 397 | 12.8 |
| J. T. Reddick Elementary School | PK-5 | 344 | 14.3 |
Towns near Tifton
- Ocilla, GA18.5 mi · 3,498 people · home $95,700
- Ashburn, GA18.8 mi · 4,291 people · home $101,000
- Sylvester, GA19.1 mi · 5,644 people · home $115,900
- Fitzgerald, GA23.5 mi · 9,006 people · home $99,000
- Adel, GA24.0 mi · 5,571 people · home $154,900
- Nashville, GA24.0 mi · 4,947 people · home $133,900
- Moultrie, GA25.2 mi · 14,638 people · home $157,200
Tifton questions
Is Tifton, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tifton scores better for retirees than 35% of Georgia towns and quieter than 18%. 16.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.8).
How much does a house cost in Tifton?
The median owner-occupied home in Tifton is valued at $196,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $45,298, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $798 a month.
What is the weather like in Tifton?
July highs average 90.0°F and January lows 36.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Tifton get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tifton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on February 14, 2000. 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)