The Town FilesValdosta, Georgia
City in Lowndes County · population 55,378 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $182,800
- Household income
- $45,925
- Jan low / Jul high
- 39° / 92°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 28.9
Valdosta is a city of 55,378 people in Lowndes County, Georgia. The median home is worth $182,800, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks more vibrant than 95% of Georgia towns, more walkable than 89% of Georgia towns, better for young professionals than 87% of Georgia towns.
How Valdosta 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 Valdosta is worth $182,800, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $45,925, which is more affordable than 31% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $1,054 a month. 41.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Valdosta | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $182,800 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $1,054 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $45,925 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 41.7% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Valdosta
| People | Valdosta | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.9 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.2% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.3% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.1% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.8% | — |
| Work from home | 6.2% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 16.1 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.8% | 88.0% |
Weather in Valdosta
July highs average 92.1°F and January lows 38.6°F. About 48.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 101 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 22 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Valdosta since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on February 4, 2024 about 3.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on February 4, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on March 30, 1997.
Severe weather in Lowndes County since 1996
Lowndes County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| 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 Lowndes County
Lowndes County had 49,348 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,531 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Valdosta itself the ACS puts it at 5.7%.
Public schools in Valdosta
17 public schools with 17,572 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowndes High School | 9-12 | 3,210 | 17.6 |
| Valdosta High School | 9-12 | 2,496 | 17.3 |
| Sallas Mahone Elementary | PK-5 | 1,097 | 14.6 |
| Valdosta Middle School | 6-8 | 1,071 | 12.9 |
| W.G. Nunn Elementary | PK-5 | 940 | 13.4 |
| Westside Elementary School | PK-5 | 926 | 15.2 |
| S.L. Mason Elementary School | PK-5 | 917 | 14.8 |
| Dewar Elementary | PK-5 | 863 | 14.4 |
| Scintilla Charter Academy (charter) | K-9 | 856 | 13.0 |
| Lowndes Middle School | 6-8 | 822 | 13.3 |
| Newbern Middle School | 6-8 | 776 | 11.9 |
| Pine Grove Middle School | 6-8 | 697 | 12.7 |
Towns near Valdosta
- Bemiss, GA6.6 mi · 8,999 people · home $217,400
- Hahira, GA11.4 mi · 3,384 people · home $206,500
- Quitman, GA17.3 mi · 4,064 people · home $110,700
- Lakeland, GA17.9 mi · 2,875 people · home $148,600
- Adel, GA20.9 mi · 5,571 people · home $154,900
- Echols County, GA24.5 mi · 3,697 people · home $124,100
- Nashville, GA24.6 mi · 4,947 people · home $133,900
- Madison, FL27.4 mi · 2,912 people · home $78,500
Valdosta questions
Is Valdosta, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Valdosta scores better for retirees than 15% of Georgia towns and quieter than 2%. 14.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 28.9).
How much does a house cost in Valdosta?
The median owner-occupied home in Valdosta is valued at $182,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $45,925, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $1,054 a month.
What is the weather like in Valdosta?
July highs average 92.1°F and January lows 38.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.4 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Valdosta get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Valdosta since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on February 4, 2024. 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)