The Town FilesSylvania, Georgia
City in Screven County · population 2,634 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $155,300
- Household income
- $46,033
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 92°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 46.4
Sylvania is a city of 2,634 people in Screven County, Georgia. The median home is worth $155,300, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks quieter than 97% of Georgia towns, easier by car than 90% of Georgia towns, better for retirees than 79% of Georgia towns.
How Sylvania 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 Sylvania is worth $155,300, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $46,033, which is more affordable than 51% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $571 a month. 63.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sylvania | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $155,300 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $571 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $46,033 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 63.6% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Sylvania
| People | Sylvania | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.4 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.0% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.4% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.9% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 12.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 2.8% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 27.4 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.5% | 88.0% |
Weather in Sylvania
July highs average 91.5°F and January lows 35.8°F. About 48.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 74 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 44 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sylvania since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 1, 2003 about 4.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on January 21, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on May 12, 1971.
Severe weather in Screven County since 1996
Screven County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3642: Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Screven County
Screven County had 2,899 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,762 a year. Unemployment was 5.2% in 2023; in Sylvania itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Sylvania
3 public schools with 2,085 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screven County Elementary School | PK-5 | 992 | 13.4 |
| Screven County High School | 9-12 | 598 | 14.2 |
| Screven County Middle School | 6-8 | 495 | 12.7 |
Towns near Sylvania
- Millen, GA18.0 mi · 2,966 people · home $86,300
- Statesboro, GA22.8 mi · 33,438 people · home $197,900
- Allendale, SC26.4 mi · 2,694 people · home $86,500
Sylvania questions
Is Sylvania, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sylvania scores better for retirees than 79% of Georgia towns and quieter than 97%. 27.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.4).
How much does a house cost in Sylvania?
The median owner-occupied home in Sylvania is valued at $155,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,033, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $571 a month.
What is the weather like in Sylvania?
July highs average 91.5°F and January lows 35.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.4 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Sylvania get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sylvania since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 1, 2003. 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)