Fort Gaines is a small town of 1,035 in Georgia, with a median household income of $36,161
and a 9.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 82 (US average = 100), which is
18% below the national average.
Strengths:
Fort Gaines stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Fort Gaines is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Fort Gaines 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: 82.2
Fort Gaines's overall cost of living index is 82.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Fort Gaines costs roughly 18% less than the average American city.
Metric
Fort Gaines, GA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$62,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$353
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
34.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$36,161
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Fort Gaines's violent crime rate is 564.6 per 100,000 residents
— 49% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
564.6 /100k
Property Crime
564.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Fort Gaines is served primarily by Clay County.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 7.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Fort Gaines, GA
National Avg
School District
Clay County
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
7.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
9.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
86.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Fort Gaines sees average highs of 59.2°F in January
and 90.9°F in July,
with 57.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.3 inches of snow per year.
Fort Gaines's cost of living index is 82, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Fort Gaines roughly 18% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $62,900 and median rent is $353/month.
Fort Gaines's violent crime rate is 564.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 564.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Fort Gaines are operated by Clay County.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 7.8:1. 9.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Fort Gaines, GA has a population of 1,035, a median household income of $36,161, and an unemployment rate of 9.2%.
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.
Fort Gaines averages 59.2°F in January and 90.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 57.9 inches
with about 0.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Fort Gaines, GA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 39851.
The population of Fort Gaines, Georgia is 1,035 with a median age of 31.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Fort Gaines: cost of living index 82 (100 = US average), median home $62,900, median household income $36,161, crime index 100 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Fort Gaines side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
