What are the schools like in Folkston, GA?

Folkston is served primarily by Charlton County. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.3:1.

What is the median household income in Folkston?

The median household income in Folkston, GA is $36,712 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 17.1%.

What is the weather like in Folkston, GA?

Folkston has an average high temperature of 66.6°F in January and 94.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 53.2 inches.

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

Q: Is Folkston, GA affordable or expensive?

Folkston's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means Folkston is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $72,000 and the median rent is $725 per month.

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

Folkston has a violent crime rate of 63.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 485.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Folkston, GA a Good Place to Live?

Folkston is a small town of 4,544 in Georgia, with a median household income of $36,712 and a 17.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

Strengths: Folkston 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 Folkston is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Folkston 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: 88.6

Folkston's overall cost of living index is 88.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Folkston costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric	Folkston, GA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$72,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$725	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	52.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$36,712	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Folkston's violent crime rate is 63.3 per 100,000 residents — 83% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

63.3 /100k

Property Crime

485.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Folkston is served primarily by Charlton County. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Folkston, GA	National Avg
School District	Charlton County	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	5.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	78.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Folkston sees average highs of 66.6°F in January and 94.4°F in July, with 53.2 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Folkston, GA
Average High — January	66.6°F
Average High — July	94.4°F
Annual Precipitation	53.2"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Folkston, GA	National Avg
Population	4,544	—
Median Age	36.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	17.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	38.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	53.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.3%	18.9%
Asian	2.2%	6.3%
Under 18	14.0%	22.2%
65 and over	12.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Homeland, GA 2 mi Hilliard, FL 12 mi Kingsland, GA 13 mi Woodbine, GA 19 mi Hickox, GA 21 mi

ZIP Codes in Folkston

Folkston, GA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

31537

Folkston vs Other Cities

Folkston, GA vs Homeland, GA Folkston, GA vs Hilliard, FL Folkston, GA vs Kingsland, GA Folkston, GA vs Woodbine, GA Folkston, GA vs Hickox, GA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Folkston, GA affordable or expensive?

Folkston's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Folkston roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $72,000 and median rent is $725/month.

What is the crime rate in Folkston, GA?

Folkston's violent crime rate is 63.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 485.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Folkston?

Public schools in Folkston are operated by Charlton County. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.3:1. 5.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Folkston, GA a good place to live?

Folkston, GA has a population of 4,544, a median household income of $36,712, and an unemployment rate of 17.1%. 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 Folkston?

Folkston averages 66.6°F in January and 94.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 53.2 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Folkston?

Folkston, GA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 31537.

What is the population of Folkston?

The population of Folkston, Georgia is 4,544 with a median age of 36.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Folkston?

Key numbers for living in Folkston: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $72,000, median household income $36,712, crime index 19 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Folkston side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.