Cost of Living in Folkston, GA

Population 4,609 · Georgia · Data vintage 2023

40
Cost Index
(100 = US avg)
Page updated: · Data vintage: 2023 ACS 5-Year
Sources: Census ACS·BLS·NOAA·EPA·Zillow · Methodology

At $45,453, median household incomes in Folkston land roughly 39% below the US median, a gap that tends to persist across local labor-market indicators. At 13.6%, the local unemployment rate runs well above the US figure, pointing to structural rather than cyclical labor-market issues.

Geographically, Folkston is about 40 miles northwest of Jacksonville, the nearest large metro. Median home values run roughly 71% lower than Jacksonville's $266,000.

Cost Overview

Housing 25
Rent 63

Scale: 100 = US national average. Green < 90, Red > 110.

About the Cost of Living in Folkston

The median home value in Folkston is $76,800 — 75% below the national median of $305,000. Median rent runs $833/month, 37% lower than the national median of $1,314/month. The median household income of $45,453/year is 39% lower than the US median of $74,580. The local unemployment rate is 13.6%, above the national average of 4.8%. Georgia's top state income tax rate is 5.5% and the combined sales tax is 7.3%. Overall, Folkston has a cost of living index of 40 versus the US average of 100, meaning it is 60% less expensive.

🏠 Housing

Median Home Value
$76,800
75% below avg
Zillow Home Value
$339,017
Zillow ZHVI
Median Rent
$833/mo
37% below avg
Price-to-Rent Ratio
7.7x
Favors buying
Property Tax Rate
0.9%
Effective rate

HUD Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$773
1 BR
$817
2 BR
$984
3 BR
$1,289
4 BR
$1,520
Owner-occupied 62.1%
Renter-occupied 37.9%

💰 Estimated Monthly Budget

Rent median rent
$833
Groceries national estimate
$400
Utilities local estimate
$88
Transportation local gas prices
$126
Estimated Total $1,447/mo

Estimates based on median data and national averages. Actual costs vary.

🛒 Food & Groceries

National BLS average prices (2023). Local prices may vary.

🥚
Eggs (dozen)
$0.548
🍞
White Bread (lb)
$1.912
🥩
Ground Beef (lb)
$5.61

🚗 Transportation

Avg Commute
22.2 min
18% below avg
Gas Price
$3.145/gal
0% below avg
Work From Home
0.8%

Commute Mode

Drove alone
98.1%
Carpooled
0.5%
Work from home
0.8%

Utilities

Electricity
$0.176/kWh
0% below avg

📋 Taxes

State Income Tax (flat) 5.5%
Total Sales Tax 7.3%
State rate 4.0%
Avg local rate 3.4%
Property Tax 0.9%

💼 Income & Employment

Median Household Income
$45,453
39% below avg
Per Capita Income
$20,378
Unemployment Rate
13.6%
183% above avg
Poverty Rate
33.2%
Labor Force Participation
49.5%

🎓 Education

Bachelor's degree+ 3.2%
Graduate degree 1.3%

👥 Demographics

Median Age 37.6
Male median age 40.2
Female median age 35.5

💨 Air Quality

EPA AQS 2023 — county-level monitoring data

Median AQI 27 — Good
90.8%
Good air days/yr
74
Max AQI recorded
120
PM2.5 days
0
Ozone days

🏫 Schools

NCES CCD 2019 — public school district data

92%
4-Year Graduation Rate
15.2:1
Student-teacher ratio
4
Public schools
1,689
Total enrollment

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living in Folkston, GA?

Folkston has a cost index of 40 (100 = national average). It is 60% below the national average.

What is average rent in Folkston, GA?

The median gross rent in Folkston is $833 per month based on 2023 Census data.

What is the average home price in Folkston?

The median home value in Folkston is $76,800 according to Zillow and Census data.

What is the median income in Folkston?

The median household income in Folkston is $45,453 per year (2023 ACS 5-year estimates).

What is the sales tax in Folkston, GA?

The combined state and local sales tax rate in Folkston is 7.3%. The Georgia state income tax top rate is 5.5%.

Is Folkston, GA affordable?

Yes, Folkston is generally considered affordable, with a cost of living index of 40 — about 60% below the US national average of 100.

Folkston at a Glance

Population
4,609
Median Income
$45,453
Home Value
$76,800
Median Rent
$833/mo
Unemployment
13.6%
Sales Tax
7.3%
View all cities in Georgia →
🗺️ County data for Georgia

Explore county-level cost of living data

Similar Cost Cities

Cities in other states with comparable housing costs