The Town FilesPlains, Georgia
City in Sumter County · population 573 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $254,900
- Household income
- $38,294
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 42.6
Plains is a city of 573 people in Sumter County, Georgia. The median home is worth $254,900, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks more of a college town than 87% of Georgia towns, easier by car than 78% of Georgia towns, better for retirees than 70% of Georgia towns.
How Plains 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 Plains is worth $254,900, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 6.7 times the median household income of $38,294, which is more affordable than 2% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $750 a month. 78.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Plains | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $254,900 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $750 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $38,294 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.7× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 78.4% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1948 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Plains
| People | Plains | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.6 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.0% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 36.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.6% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.1% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 23.2 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.8% | 88.0% |
Weather in Plains
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 0.1 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
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Plains since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on March 1, 2007 about 4.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 13 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 5, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 27, 2005.
Severe weather in Sumter County since 1996
Sumter County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 9, 2026 | Tropical Storm | EM-3657: Hurricane Isaias |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3642: Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Sumter County
Sumter County had 9,902 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,522 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Plains itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Plains
- Webster County unified government, GA9.4 mi · 2,348 people · home $82,600
- Americus, GA10.5 mi · 16,230 people · home $107,500
- Smithville, GA12.2 mi · 593 people · home $111,500
- Ellaville, GA15.0 mi · 1,595 people · home $160,500
- Richland, GA16.1 mi · 1,370 people · home $47,600
- Dawson, GA18.3 mi · 4,414 people · home $106,200
- Buena Vista, GA21.0 mi · 1,585 people · home $80,900
- Shellman, GA23.1 mi · 861 people · home $96,100
Plains questions
Is Plains, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Plains scores better for retirees than 70% of Georgia towns and quieter than 52%. 20.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.6).
How much does a house cost in Plains?
The median owner-occupied home in Plains is valued at $254,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $38,294, so homes cost about 6.7 times income. Median rent is $750 a month.
What is the weather like in Plains?
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 0.1 inches of snow.
Does Plains get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Plains since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on March 1, 2007. 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)