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Living in
St. Marys.
About
Life in St. Marys
This small city of about 18,800 people sits right on the Georgia-Florida border with a genuinely unique economic foundation: the Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, which employs over 9,000 military and civilian workers and anchors the local job market in ways that matter if you're considering a move here. That stability means the unemployment rate sits at a healthy 3.2%, well below the national average, though job diversity outside of military and government contracting is limited. The median household income of $74,288 is solid for the region, and if you're buying, median home values around $312,300 are reasonable compared to coastal Georgia alternatives—plus the rental market is active with median rents near $1,183 a month, giving you flexibility either way.
St. Marys at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
33.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
17.4%
Foreign-Born
2.8%
Broadband Internet
94.0%
of households
Population Growth
+11.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.8% foreign-born, most often from Cuba
Who lives in St. Marys: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In St. Marys, the largest foreign-born group is from Cuba (14.7%), and 4.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
26.5%
of residents
65 and Older
17.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
35.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
25.6%
of households
Married Couples
47.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.57
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 15% below GA average
Rent, home values, and income in St. Marys
In St. Marys, rent runs 15% below the GA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
47.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
30.4%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$3,038
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
61.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1994
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.7%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for GA
Unemployment in St. Marys
Unemployment in Camden County, which includes St. Marys, is close to the GA average.
Unemployment rate
St. Marys: Camden County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Camden County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What St. Marys Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute26.2 min avg
How St. Marys residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In St. Marys, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 67% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 18 mi
Jacksonville International Airport (JAX)
Medium hub3.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 6% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in St. Marys runs 6% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
350.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,173.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
St. Marys Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 12 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
54.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Camden County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Camden County, which includes St. Marys, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 12 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | Heavy Rain | $3,000 |
| 2024 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 16 | Coastal Flood | $800 |
| 2022 | 6 | Tropical Storm | $1,000 |
| 2021 | 5 | Heavy Rain | $10 |
| 2020 | 8 | Coastal Flood | None reported |
| 2019 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $900 |
| 2018 | 7 | Hail | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Camden County, county-wide
Air Quality51 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Duval County, FL (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 29 miles from St. Marys) is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
51
Good Days
175
per year
Moderate Days
186
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Duval County, FL (29 mi away)
Climate88°F summers, 45°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
St. Marys has warm summers (avg high 88°F) and mild winters (avg low 45°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
76°/58°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
88°/73°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
78°/61°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
64°/45°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
56.5"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
40
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
12
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
110
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 62°F | 43°F | 2.83" |
| Feb | 65°F | 45°F | 2.82" |
| Mar | 70°F | 51°F | 3.31" |
| Apr | 76°F | 57°F | 2.77" |
| May | 82°F | 65°F | 3.71" |
| Jun | 86°F | 71°F | 6.29" |
| Jul | 89°F | 74°F | 4.58" |
| Aug | 89°F | 74°F | 6.53" |
| Sep | 85°F | 71°F | 5.20" |
| Oct | 79°F | 62°F | 4.39" |
| Nov | 71°F | 52°F | 1.68" |
| Dec | 65°F | 46°F | 3.06" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in St. Marys
St. Marys has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
8.2%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Southeast Georgia Health System -- Camden Campus
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Baptist Medical Center - Nassau
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.5 mi away · Fernandina Beach
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in St. Marys
St. Marys's student/teacher ratio is 14.9:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 29.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
29.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Cumberland Island National Seashore, 10 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for St. Marys
St. Marys has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Cumberland Island National Seashore (10 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Cumberland Island National Seashore
National Seashore
10 mi awayTimucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve
Ecological & Historic Preserve
20 mi awayFort Frederica National Monument
National Monument
34 mi awayCastillo de San Marcos National Monument
National Monument
61 mi awayFort Matanzas National Monument
National Monument
75 mi awayFort Pulaski National Monument
National Monument
96 mi awayPublic Libraries in St. Marys
St. Marys Public Library
100 Herb Bauer Drive, St. Marys
Cities Near St. Marys
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to St. Marys?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
St. Marys FAQ
Is St. Marys, Georgia affordable?⌄
St. Marys's median rent is $1,183/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $74,288/year. Median home value is $312,300.
Is St. Marys, Georgia safe?⌄
St. Marys's violent crime rate was 351 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1174 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in St. Marys, Georgia?⌄
Camden County, which includes St. Marys, has an unemployment rate of 3.1%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in St. Marys, Georgia?⌄
The cost of living in St. Marys is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,183/month and median household income is $74,288/year. The median home value is $312,300. About 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in St. Marys, Georgia?⌄
The average commute in St. Marys is 26 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from