The Town FilesDawson, Georgia
City in Terrell County · population 4,414 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $106,200
- Household income
- $28,533
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 38.1
Dawson is a city of 4,414 people in Terrell County, Georgia. The median home is worth $106,200, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks better for cycling than 98% of Georgia towns.
How Dawson 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 Dawson is worth $106,200, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $28,533, which is more affordable than 39% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $745 a month. 36.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dawson | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $106,200 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $745 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $28,533 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 36.6% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in Dawson
| People | Dawson | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.1 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.1% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.7% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 53.8% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 8.4% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 22.5 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.2% | 88.0% |
Weather in Dawson
July highs average 90.4°F and January lows 35.9°F. About 50.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 72 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 42 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dawson since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 23, 1971 about 8.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 24, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 12, 2007.
Severe weather in Terrell County since 1996
Terrell County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 9, 2026 | Tropical Storm | EM-3657: Hurricane Isaias |
| 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 |
| October 14, 2018 | Hurricane | DR-4400: Hurricane Michael |
Jobs and pay in Terrell County
Terrell County had 2,136 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,769 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Dawson itself the ACS puts it at 6%.
Public schools in Dawson
4 public schools with 975 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooper-Carver Elementary School | PK-5 | 451 | 15.6 |
| Terrell High School | 9-12 | 279 | 14.7 |
| Terrell Middle School | 6-8 | 231 | 12.8 |
| Terrell Regional Youth Detention Center | 6-12 | 14 | 2.8 |
Towns near Dawson
- Leesburg, GA16.4 mi · 3,480 people · home $199,200
- Cuthbert, GA20.6 mi · 3,143 people · home $126,100
- Albany, GA20.6 mi · 69,647 people · home $124,300
- Americus, GA24.6 mi · 16,230 people · home $107,500
- Putney, GA28.6 mi · 2,869 people · home $134,600
Dawson questions
Is Dawson, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dawson scores better for retirees than 40% of Georgia towns and quieter than 63%. 19.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.1).
How much does a house cost in Dawson?
The median owner-occupied home in Dawson is valued at $106,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $28,533, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $745 a month.
What is the weather like in Dawson?
July highs average 90.4°F and January lows 35.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.7 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Dawson get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dawson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 23, 1971. 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)