The Town FilesFolkston, Georgia
City in Charlton County · population 4,464 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $78,100
- Household income
- $50,116
- Jan low / Jul high
- 44° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 39.2
Folkston is a city of 4,464 people in Charlton County, Georgia. The median home is worth $78,100, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks easier by car than 96% of Georgia towns, quieter than 78% of Georgia towns, more of a college town than 78% of Georgia towns.
- #1 in The 14 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Georgia With Mild Winters
- #2 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Georgia
- #4 in 25 Small Towns in Georgia With the Mildest Winters
- #4 in 25 Small Towns in Georgia With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #7 in The 14 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Georgia
- #7 in 25 Small Towns in Georgia With the Cheapest Homes
How Folkston 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 Folkston is worth $78,100, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $50,116, which is more affordable than 97% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $495 a month. 66.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Folkston | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $78,100 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $495 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $50,116 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 66.2% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Folkston
| People | Folkston | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.2 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.4% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 15.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 5.5% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 28.8% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 4.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 1.6% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 24.5 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.6% | 88.0% |
Weather in Folkston
July highs average 94.4°F and January lows 43.7°F. About 53.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 114 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 17 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Folkston since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on April 7, 2022 about 6.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 7, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on March 27, 2000.
Severe weather in Charlton County since 1996
Charlton County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, drought, 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 Charlton County
Charlton County had 2,082 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,782 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Folkston itself the ACS puts it at 27.4%.
Public schools in Folkston
3 public schools with 1,479 students, about 14.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Folkston Elementary School | PK-4 | 559 | 14.3 |
| Bethune Middle School | 5-8 | 476 | 14.4 |
| Charlton County High School | 9-12 | 444 | 15.3 |
Towns near Folkston
- Hilliard, FL11.7 mi · 2,967 people · home $239,500
- Kingsland, GA12.8 mi · 18,337 people · home $251,400
- Nassau Village-Ratliff, FL25.6 mi · 5,561 people · home $253,000
- St. Marys, GA26.1 mi · 18,256 people · home $312,300
- Yulee, FL29.6 mi · 14,195 people · home $302,500
Folkston questions
Is Folkston, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Folkston scores better for retirees than 67% of Georgia towns and quieter than 78%. 11.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.2).
How much does a house cost in Folkston?
The median owner-occupied home in Folkston is valued at $78,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,116, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $495 a month.
What is the weather like in Folkston?
July highs average 94.4°F and January lows 43.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Folkston get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Folkston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on April 7, 2022. 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)