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Living in
Valdosta.
About
Life in Valdosta
If you're considering Valdosta, understand upfront that you're looking at a smaller southern city that functions primarily as a regional commercial and educational center rather than a major job market or cultural destination. The university drives a lot of activity and keeps the population relatively young, but don't expect the amenities or job diversity of a larger metro area. Housing is genuinely affordable—median home values around $183,000 and median rent at $1,000—which is probably the biggest draw, though that affordability reflects the local economy's limitations.
Valdosta at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
28.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
26.1%
Foreign-Born
3.8%
Broadband Internet
80.8%
of households
Population Growth
+1.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.8% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Valdosta: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Valdosta, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (26.1%), and 3.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.6%
of residents
65 and Older
14.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
39.2%
of households
Married Couples
28.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.32
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 24% below GA average
Rent, home values, and income in Valdosta
In Valdosta, rent runs 24% below the GA average, and home values are 40% below the GA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
52.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
27.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
88.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,735
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
41.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1986
median year built
Vacant Homes
12.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $212,054 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.9 pts above GA average
Unemployment in Valdosta
Unemployment in Valdosta is 0.9 percentage points higher than the GA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Valdosta Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute16.1 min avg
How Valdosta residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Valdosta, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 89% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 3 mi
Valdosta Regional Airport (VLD)
Regional airport · few flights56k passengers boarded in 2025
- 97 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 45% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Valdosta runs 45% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
477.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,805.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Valdosta Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 13 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
72.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Lowndes County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Lowndes County, which includes Valdosta, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 13 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $15,000 |
| 2024 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $509.8M |
| 2023 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $20.8M |
| 2022 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $69,000 |
| 2021 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $72,000 |
| 2020 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $32,000 |
| 2019 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $87,000 |
| 2018 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $205,000 |
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
Lowndes County, county-wide
Air Quality49 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Lowndes County, which includes Valdosta, is typically good — 187 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
49
Good Days
187
per year
Moderate Days
178
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Lowndes County, county-wide
Climate91°F summers, 41°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Valdosta has hot summers (avg high 91°F) and mild winters (avg low 41°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
80°/53°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
91°/70°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
80°/57°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
65°/41°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
54.6"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
82
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
22
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
118
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 63°F | 39°F | 3.83" |
| Feb | 67°F | 42°F | 3.31" |
| Mar | 73°F | 47°F | 3.73" |
| Apr | 80°F | 53°F | 3.66" |
| May | 86°F | 60°F | 2.84" |
| Jun | 90°F | 68°F | 7.08" |
| Jul | 92°F | 70°F | 5.33" |
| Aug | 92°F | 71°F | 5.11" |
| Sep | 88°F | 67°F | 4.22" |
| Oct | 81°F | 57°F | 3.71" |
| Nov | 71°F | 47°F | 2.47" |
| Dec | 65°F | 41°F | 3.12" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Valdosta
Valdosta has 2 hospitals, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
16.8%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Sgmc Health
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Greenleaf Center
Psychiatric
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 Valdosta
Valdosta's student/teacher ratio is 14.9:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 28.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
28.3%
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
Colleges & Universities in Valdosta
Public · 4-year · 6,622 students · in-state tuition $6,124 · 47% graduate · median earnings $52,334 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreation
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Valdosta
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Public Libraries in Valdosta
Willis L. Miller Library
2906 Julia Drive, Valdosta
Mcmullen Southside Library
527 Griffin Avenue, Valdosta
Cities Near Valdosta
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Valdosta?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Valdosta FAQ
Is Valdosta, Georgia affordable?⌄
Valdosta's median rent is $1,054/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $45,925/year. Median home value is $182,800.
Is Valdosta, Georgia safe?⌄
Valdosta's violent crime rate was 477 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3806 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Valdosta, Georgia?⌄
Valdosta has an unemployment rate of 4.3%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Valdosta, Georgia?⌄
The cost of living in Valdosta is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,054/month and median household income is $45,925/year. The median home value is $182,800. About 52% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Valdosta, Georgia?⌄
The average commute in Valdosta is 16 minutes, which is shorter than 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