What are the schools like in Dawson, GA?

Dawson is served primarily by Terrell County. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.6:1.

What is the median household income in Dawson?

The median household income in Dawson, GA is $31,310 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 13.6%.

What is the weather like in Dawson, GA?

Dawson has an average high temperature of 59.4°F in January and 91.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 55.4 inches.

Dawson, GA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Dawson, GA affordable or expensive?

Dawson's cost of living index is 86, where 100 represents the national average. This means Dawson is 14% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $80,600 and the median rent is $719 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Dawson, GA?

Dawson has a violent crime rate of 483.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1014.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Dawson, GA a Good Place to Live?

Dawson is a small town of 4,342 in Georgia, with a median household income of $31,310 and a 13.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is 14% below the national average.

Strengths: Dawson stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Dawson is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Dawson city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 86.4

Dawson's overall cost of living index is 86.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Dawson costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.

Metric	Dawson, GA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$80,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$719	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	31.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$31,310	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Dawson's violent crime rate is 483.1 per 100,000 residents — 27% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

483.1 /100k

Property Crime

1014.5 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Dawson is served primarily by Terrell County. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Dawson, GA	National Avg
School District	Terrell County	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	13.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	82.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Dawson sees average highs of 59.4°F in January and 91.6°F in July, with 55.4 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Dawson, GA
Average High — January	59.4°F
Average High — July	91.6°F
Annual Precipitation	55.4"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Dawson, GA	National Avg
Population	4,342	—
Median Age	33.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	13.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	25.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	15.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	82.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	2.4%	6.3%
Under 18	28.5%	22.2%
65 and over	15.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Bronwood, GA 6 mi Sasser, GA 7 mi Parrott, GA 9 mi Shellman, GA 10 mi Smithville, GA 14 mi

ZIP Codes in Dawson

Dawson, GA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

39842

Dawson vs Other Cities

Dawson, GA vs Bronwood, GA Dawson, GA vs Sasser, GA Dawson, GA vs Parrott, GA Dawson, GA vs Shellman, GA Dawson, GA vs Smithville, GA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dawson, GA affordable or expensive?

Dawson's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average. That makes Dawson roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $80,600 and median rent is $719/month.

What is the crime rate in Dawson, GA?

Dawson's violent crime rate is 483.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1014.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Dawson?

Public schools in Dawson are operated by Terrell County. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1. 13.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Dawson, GA a good place to live?

Dawson, GA has a population of 4,342, a median household income of $31,310, and an unemployment rate of 13.6%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Dawson?

Dawson averages 59.4°F in January and 91.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 55.4 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Dawson?

Dawson, GA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 39842.

What is the population of Dawson?

The population of Dawson, Georgia is 4,342 with a median age of 33.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Dawson?

Key numbers for living in Dawson: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $80,600, median household income $31,310, crime index 96 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Dawson side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.