Valdosta, GA

Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)

Add Comparison

2021 Population

147,256

0.542% 1-year growth

US Senator

Jon Ossoff

Democratic Party

US Senator

Raphael Warnock

Democratic Party

2021 Median Age

32.2

0.312% 1-year increase

2021 Poverty Rate

23.8%

2.7% 1-year increase

2021 Median Household Income

$46,092

5.09% 1-year growth

2021 Median Property Value

$145,800

6.19% 1-year growth

2021 Employed Population

60,465

0.382% 1-year growth

About

In 2021, Valdosta, GA had a population of 147k people with a median age of 32.2 and a median household income of $46,092. Between 2020 and 2021 the population of Valdosta, GA grew from 146,462 to 147,256, a 0.542% increase and its median household income grew from $43,859 to $46,092, a 5.09% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Valdosta, GA are White (Non-Hispanic) (54.1%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (35%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (2.44%), White (Hispanic) (2.38%), and Other (Hispanic) (2.13%).

None of the households in Valdosta, GA reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

98.4% of the residents in Valdosta, GA are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Valdosta, GA are Valdosta State University (2,631 degrees awarded in 2021) and Wiregrass Georgia Technical College (2,040 degrees).

In 2021, the median property value in Valdosta, GA was $145,800, and the homeownership rate was 56.8%.

Most people in Valdosta, GA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 20.4 minutes. The average car ownership in Valdosta, GA was 2 cars per household.

Valdosta, GA borders Lake City, FL, Moultrie, GA, Tallahassee, FL, and Thomasville, GA.

United States Georgia

Population & Diversity

Valdosta, GA is home to a population of 147k people, from which 98.4% are citizens. As of 2021, 3.53% of Valdosta, GA residents were born outside of the country (5.2k people).

In 2021, there were 1.54 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (79.6k people) in Valdosta, GA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 51.6k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 3.6k Two+ (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

98.4%

2021 Citizenship

98.1%

2020 Citizenship

As of 2021, 98.4% of Valdosta, GA residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2020, the percentage of US citizens in Valdosta, GA was 98.1%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Valdosta, GA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Valdosta, GA

White (Non-Hispanic)
79.6k ± 474
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
51.6k ± 504
Two+ (Non-Hispanic)
3.6k ± 578

6.67%

Hispanic Population

9.82k people

6.67% of the people in Valdosta, GA are hispanic (9.82k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Valdosta, GA as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the MSA level, so we are showing data for Georgia.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
226,399 ± 11,557 people
India
100,869 ± 7,760 people
Jamaica
46,494 ± 5,282 people

In 2021, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Georgia was Mexico, the natal country of 226,399 Georgia residents, followed by India with 100,869 and Jamaica with 46,494.

Foreign-Born Population

3.53%

2021 Foreign-Born Population

5.2k people

3.57%

2020 Foreign-Born Population

5.23k people

As of 2021, 3.53% of Valdosta, GA residents (5.2k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.6%. In 2020, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Valdosta, GA was 3.57%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Valdosta, GA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Gulf War (2001-)
3,709 ± 601
Vietnam
2,394 ± 315
Gulf War (1990s)
1,546 ± 308

Valdosta, GA has a large population of military personnel who served in Gulf War (2001-), 1.55 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Valdosta, GA employs 60.5k people. The largest industries in Valdosta, GA are Retail Trade (9,115 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (8,353 people), and Educational Services (6,388 people), and the highest paying industries are Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($77,850), Transportation & Warehousing ($50,413), and Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($48,403).

Males in Georgia have an average income that is 1.35 times higher than the average income of females, which is $54,211. The income inequality in Georgia (measured using the Gini index) is 0.475, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

60.5k

2021 Value

± 2,282

0.382%

1 Year growth

± 5.19%

From 2020 to 2021, employment in Valdosta, GA grew at a rate of 0.382%, from 60.2k employees to 60.5k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Valdosta, GA, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (7,877 people), Sales & Related Occupations (7,719 people), and Management Occupations (5,115 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Valdosta, GA.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Georgia (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

View Full Dashboard

Industries

Employment by Industries

60.5k

2021 Value

± 2,282

0.382%

1 Year growth

± 5.19%

From 2020 to 2021, employment in Valdosta, GA grew at a rate of 0.382%, from 60.2k employees to 60.5k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Valdosta, GA, are Retail Trade (9,115 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (8,353 people), and Educational Services (6,388 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Valdosta, GA, though some of these residents may live in Valdosta, GA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$37,700

Median earning men ± $2,110

$27,490

Median earning women ± $1,298

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2021 are Information ($54,401), Public Administration ($54,383), and Wholesale Trade ($51,358).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2021 are Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($35,978), Public Administration ($35,496), and Construction ($34,509).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

Y-Axis

2.75%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 155M people employed in Georgia. This represents a 2.75% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Georgia.

View Full Dashboard

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

1,415
Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance
772
Finance & Insurance, and Real Estate, Rental & Leasing
697
Retail Trade

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$705k
Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance
$563k
Manufacturing
$240k
Professional, Scientific & Management, and Administrative & Waste Management Services

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from Georgia to other states, or from other states to Georgia.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

In 2020, the top outbound Georgia product (by dollars) was Motorized vehicles with $73.4B, followed by Mixed freight ($67.6B) and Machinery ($50.5B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound Georgia products.

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for Georgia.

$625B

2020 Value in Georgia

$1.3T

Projected 2050 Value in Georgia

109% growth

In 2020, total outbound Georgia trade was $625B. This is expected to increase 109% to $1.3T by 2050.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound Georgia trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from Georgia to other states, or from other states to Georgia.

Most Common Trade Partners

Florida
$59.2B
Tennessee
$36.9B
North Carolina
$32.9B

In 2020, the top outbound Georgia domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was Florida with $59.2B, followed by Tennessee with $36.9B and North Carolina and $32.9B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that Georgia shares with each state (excluding itself).

Civics

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Georgia went to Joseph R Biden Jr. with 49.5% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (49.2%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (1.24%).

Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock are the senators currently representing the state of Georgia. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Georgia is currently represented by 14 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Valdosta, GA. Showing the available data for Georgia.

2020 Election Results

Joseph R Biden Jr. (49.5%)
Democratic Party
Donald J. Trump (49.2%)
Republican Party
Jo Jorgensen (1.24%)
Libertarian Party

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Georgia went to Joseph R Biden Jr. with 49.5% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (49.2%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (1.24%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Georgia for each registered party from 1976 to 2020.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Georgia

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Georgia.

Jon Ossoff

Senator from Georgia

Assumed office on January 20, 2021
Inauguration delayed as incumbent senator David Perdue's term expired on January 3, 2021, two days prior to the 2020–21 United States Senate election in Georgia|runoff election.

Raphael Warnock

Senator from Georgia

Assumed office on January 20, 2021
Elected to the seat to succeed Kelly Loeffler, who had been appointed to the seat following the resignation of Johnny Isakson.

Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock are the senators currently representing Georgia.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Georgia over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representative Elections

US Representatives from Georgia

Georgia is currently represented by 14 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for Georgia have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2021, universities in Valdosta, GA awarded 4,671 degrees. The student population of Valdosta, GA in 2021 is skewed towards women, with 4,838 male students and 10,286 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Valdosta, GA are White (2,649 and 57.3%), followed by Black or African American (1,465 and 31.7%), Hispanic or Latino (313 and 6.77%), and Two or More Races (115 and 2.49%).

The largest universities in Valdosta, GA by number of degrees awarded are Valdosta State University (2,631 and 56.3%) and Wiregrass Georgia Technical College (2,040 and 43.7%).

The most popular majors in Valdosta, GA are Licensed Practical & Vocational Nurse Training (249 and 5.33%), General Business Administration & Management (210 and 4.5%), and Other Liberal Arts & Sciences, General Studies, & Humanities (206 and 4.41%).

The median tuition cost in Valdosta, GA for a public four year colleges is $4,371 for in-state students and $15,426 for out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2021 in Valdosta, GA, the percentage of applicants admitted was 76.4%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 27%. The number of students enrolled in 2021 was 15,124 (32% men and 68% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2021 there were 15,124 students enrolled in Valdosta, GA, 32% men and 68% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 7,228 records, of which 66.8% were women and 33.2% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Organizational Leadership
100 degree-majors awarded
General Psychology
121 degree-majors awarded
General Business Administration & Management
117 degree-majors awarded

In 2021, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Valdosta, GA was Organizational Leadership with 100 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Valdosta, GA according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Valdosta State University
2,631 degrees awarded
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
2,040 degrees awarded

In 2021, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Valdosta State University with 2,631 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2021, 1,691 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Valdosta, GA, which is 0.567 times less than the 2,980 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2021 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 2,649 degrees mean that there were 1.81 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 1,465 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Public, 4-year or above ($4,371) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2021.

Public, 4-year or above ($2,212) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2021.

Public, 2-year ($1,276) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Georgia.

Measure

In 2021, 1.01% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.946% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Georgia.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2021 were High School or Equivalent (2.29M), Some college (1.78M), and Bachelors Degree (1.52M).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Valdosta, GA was $145,800 in 2021, which is 0.595 times smaller than the national average of $244,900. Between 2020 and 2021 the median property value increased from $137,300 to $145,800, a 6.19% increase. The homeownership rate in Valdosta, GA is 56.8%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 64.6%.

People in Valdosta, GA have an average commute time of 20.4 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Valdosta, GA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Valdosta, GA is $46,092. In 2021, the county with the highest Median Household Income in Valdosta, GA was Forsyth County, GA with a value of $120,999, followed by Oconee County, GA and Fayette County, GA, with respective values of $106,165 and $96,084.

Housing

Property

$145,800

Median Property Value 2021

±$4,510

$30,307

Median Property Taxes

±$1,320

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Valdosta, GA the largest share of households pay taxes in the < $800 range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Valdosta, GA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

56.8%

Homeownership

2021

68.3%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2021

In 2021, 56.8% of the housing units in Valdosta, GA were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 55.8%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Valdosta, GA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

In 2021, the county with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Valdosta, GA was Forsyth County, GA with a value of $120,999, followed by Oconee County, GA and Fayette County, GA, with respective values of $106,165 and $96,084.

The following map shows all of the counties in Valdosta, GA colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$46,092

Median Household Income

± $2,431

53.4k

Number of Households

± 1,920

In 2021, the median household income of the 53.4k households in Valdosta, GA grew to $46,092 from the previous year's value of $43,859.

The following chart displays the households in Valdosta, GA distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the < $10k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Valdosta, GA is from Georgia.

0.475

2021 Wage GINI in Georgia

0.476

2020 Wage GINI in Georgia

In 2021, the income inequality in Georgia was 0.475 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.141% decline from 2020 to 2021, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Georgia was lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Georgia in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Georgia across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2021

Drove Alone (82.9%)
Carpooled (8.75%)
Worked At Home (3.75%)

In 2021, 82.9% of workers in Valdosta, GA drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (8.75%) and those who worked at home (3.75%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

20.4 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Valdosta, GA have a shorter commute time (20.4 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.8 minutes). Additionally, 1.84% of the workforce in Valdosta, GA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Valdosta, GA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Valdosta, GA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Valdosta, GA have 2 cars.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

23.8% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Valdosta, GA (33.8k out of 142k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.6%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 18 - 24, followed by Males 18 - 24 and then Females 25 - 34.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Valdosta, GA is Black, followed by White and Hispanic.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Health

83.2% of the population of Valdosta, GA has health coverage, with 39.4% on employee plans, 12.5% on Medicaid, 9.09% on Medicare, 16.6% on non-group plans, and 5.64% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Georgia see 1492 patients per year on average, which represents a 1.06% decrease from the previous year (1508 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1921 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 637 patients per year.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Georgia.

1,492 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Georgia

Primary care physicians in Georgia see an average of 1,492 patients per year. This represents a 1.06% decrease from the previous year (1,508 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Georgia in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2021, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 27.1% under 18 years, 25.7% between 18 and 34 years, 33.5% between 35 and 64 years, and 13.6% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 46.1% were men and 53.9% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

16.8%

Uninsured

39.4%

Employer Coverage

12.5%

Medicaid

9.09%

Medicare

16.6%

Non-Group

5.64%

Military or VA

Between 2020 and 2021, the percent of uninsured citizens in Valdosta, GA grew by 9.32% from 15.3% to 16.8%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Valdosta, GA changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.