The Town FilesVidalia, Georgia
City in Toombs County · population 10,785 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $158,500
- Household income
- $49,370
- Jan low / Jul high
- 39° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 40.2
Vidalia is a city of 10,785 people in Toombs County, Georgia. The median home is worth $158,500, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks better for cycling than 96% of Georgia towns, better transit than 76% of Georgia towns, more vibrant than 74% of Georgia towns.
How Vidalia 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 Vidalia is worth $158,500, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $49,370, which is more affordable than 57% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $794 a month. 48.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Vidalia | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $158,500 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $794 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $49,370 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 48.8% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Vidalia
| People | Vidalia | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.2 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.9% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.1% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.7% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 8.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.8% | — |
| Work from home | 3.9% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 22.4 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.7% | 88.0% |
Weather in Vidalia
July highs average 92.3°F and January lows 39.1°F. About 47.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.2 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 82 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 24 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Vidalia since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 11, 2008 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 9, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 5, 2012.
Severe weather in Toombs County since 1996
Toombs County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| 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 |
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4821: Tropical Storm Debby |
| August 5, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3607: Hurricane Debby |
Jobs and pay in Toombs County
Toombs County had 12,281 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,997 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Vidalia itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Public schools in Vidalia
4 public schools with 2,366 students, about 14.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vidalia Comprehensive High School | 9-12 | 751 | 14.2 |
| Sally Dailey Meadows Elementary School | 2-5 | 639 | 15.2 |
| J. R. Trippe Middle School | 6-8 | 512 | 14.2 |
| J. D. Dickerson Primary School | PK-1 | 464 | 14.5 |
Towns near Vidalia
- Lyons, GA4.8 mi · 4,239 people · home $122,000
- Soperton, GA16.0 mi · 2,889 people · home $69,900
- Reidsville, GA18.4 mi · 2,515 people · home $119,100
- Metter, GA23.5 mi · 4,004 people · home $156,300
- Swainsboro, GA26.1 mi · 7,425 people · home $109,300
- Hazlehurst, GA26.7 mi · 4,088 people · home $145,300
- Claxton, GA29.0 mi · 2,602 people · home $162,000
Vidalia questions
Is Vidalia, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Vidalia scores better for retirees than 31% of Georgia towns and quieter than 25%. 20.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.2).
How much does a house cost in Vidalia?
The median owner-occupied home in Vidalia is valued at $158,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,370, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $794 a month.
What is the weather like in Vidalia?
July highs average 92.3°F and January lows 39.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.2 inches of snow.
Does Vidalia get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Vidalia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on May 11, 2008. 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)