The Town FilesOcilla, Georgia
City in Irwin County · population 3,498 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $95,700
- Household income
- $41,277
- Jan low / Jul high
- 39° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 38.0
Ocilla is a city of 3,498 people in Irwin County, Georgia. The median home is worth $95,700, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks easier by car than 91% of Georgia towns, quieter than 85% of Georgia towns, better for first-time buyers than 77% of Georgia towns.
How Ocilla 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 Ocilla is worth $95,700, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $41,277, which is more affordable than 86% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $868 a month. 53.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ocilla | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $95,700 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $868 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $41,277 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 53.5% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.7% | — |
Who lives in Ocilla
| People | Ocilla | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.0 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.1% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.0% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.2% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 0.2% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 20.1 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 75.4% | 88.0% |
Weather in Ocilla
July highs average 92.4°F and January lows 38.6°F. About 47.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 76 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 25 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ocilla since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on December 17, 2019 about 3.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 13, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 24, 1988.
Severe weather in Irwin County since 1996
Irwin County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 30, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4830: Hurricane Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3616: Hurricane Helene |
| August 5, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3607: Hurricane Debby |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4501: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3464: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Irwin County
Irwin County had 2,044 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,550 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Ocilla itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Ocilla
3 public schools with 1,632 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irwin County Elementary School | PK-5 | 770 | 15.4 |
| Irwin County High School | 9-12 | 502 | 13.6 |
| Irwin County Middle School | 6-8 | 360 | 10.6 |
Towns near Ocilla
- Fitzgerald, GA7.9 mi · 9,006 people · home $99,000
- Tifton, GA18.5 mi · 17,045 people · home $196,200
- Douglas, GA24.1 mi · 11,722 people · home $133,300
- Ashburn, GA24.9 mi · 4,291 people · home $101,000
- Nashville, GA27.2 mi · 4,947 people · home $133,900
- Abbeville, GA27.4 mi · 2,685 people · home $79,600
Ocilla questions
Is Ocilla, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ocilla scores better for retirees than 62% of Georgia towns and quieter than 85%. 16.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.0).
How much does a house cost in Ocilla?
The median owner-occupied home in Ocilla is valued at $95,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $41,277, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $868 a month.
What is the weather like in Ocilla?
July highs average 92.4°F and January lows 38.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Ocilla get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ocilla since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on December 17, 2019. 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)