The Town FilesSylvester, Georgia
City in Worth County · population 5,644 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $115,900
- Household income
- $58,417
- Jan low / Jul high
- 37° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 33
- Median age
- 37.0
Sylvester is a city of 5,644 people in Worth County, Georgia. The median home is worth $115,900, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks better transit than 75% of Georgia towns, easier by car than 73% of Georgia towns.
How Sylvester 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 Sylvester is worth $115,900, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $58,417, which is more affordable than 92% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $896 a month. 57.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sylvester | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $115,900 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $896 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $58,417 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 57.0% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Sylvester
| People | Sylvester | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.0 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.5% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.3% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.9% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 9.1% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 22.7 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 72.9% | 88.0% |
Weather in Sylvester
July highs average 91.6°F and January lows 37.3°F. About 52.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 88 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 36 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sylvester since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 15 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on January 22, 2017 about 9.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 20, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on March 27, 2024.
Severe weather in Worth County since 1996
Worth County has been included in 20 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 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 |
Jobs and pay in Worth County
Worth County had 3,024 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,312 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Sylvester itself the ACS puts it at 6.1%.
Public schools in Sylvester
5 public schools with 3,057 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worth County High School | 9-12 | 865 | 18.0 |
| Worth County Primary School | PK-2 | 859 | 14.6 |
| Worth County Elementary School | 3-5 | 666 | 13.9 |
| Worth County Middle School | 6-8 | 639 | 13.6 |
| Worth County Achievement Center | 6-12 | 28 | 28.0 |
Towns near Sylvester
- Ashburn, GA16.4 mi · 4,291 people · home $101,000
- Putney, GA16.4 mi · 2,869 people · home $134,600
- Tifton, GA19.1 mi · 17,045 people · home $196,200
- Albany, GA20.4 mi · 69,647 people · home $124,300
- Leesburg, GA24.1 mi · 3,480 people · home $199,200
- Moultrie, GA24.3 mi · 14,638 people · home $157,200
- Cordele, GA29.7 mi · 10,220 people · home $121,500
Sylvester questions
Is Sylvester, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sylvester scores better for retirees than 68% of Georgia towns and quieter than 48%. 18.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.0).
How much does a house cost in Sylvester?
The median owner-occupied home in Sylvester is valued at $115,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,417, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $896 a month.
What is the weather like in Sylvester?
July highs average 91.6°F and January lows 37.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Sylvester get tornadoes?
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sylvester since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on January 22, 2017. 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)