What are the schools like in Valdosta, GA?

Valdosta is served primarily by Lowndes County. The district operates 7 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.6:1.

What is the median household income in Valdosta?

The median household income in Valdosta, GA is $41,365 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.7%.

What is the weather like in Valdosta, GA?

Valdosta has an average high temperature of 62.7°F in January and 91.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 54.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Valdosta, GA affordable or expensive?

Valdosta's cost of living index is 87, where 100 represents the national average. This means Valdosta is 13% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $152,100 and the median rent is $932 per month.

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

Valdosta has a violent crime rate of 555.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 4078.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Valdosta, GA a Good Place to Live?

Valdosta is a mid-sized city of 55,266 in Georgia, with a median household income of $41,365 and a 5.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is 13% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Valdosta is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Valdosta 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: 86.7

Valdosta's overall cost of living index is 86.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Valdosta costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.

Metric	Valdosta, GA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$152,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$932	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	40.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$41,365	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Valdosta's violent crime rate is 555.6 per 100,000 residents — 46% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

555.6 /100k

Property Crime

4078.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

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

Metric	Valdosta, GA	National Avg
School District	Lowndes County	—
Elementary Schools	7	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	27.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	88.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Valdosta sees average highs of 62.7°F in January and 91.0°F in July, with 54.6 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Valdosta, GA
Average High — January	62.7°F
Average High — July	91.0°F
Annual Precipitation	54.6"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Valdosta, GA	National Avg
Population	55,266	—
Median Age	29.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	17.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	37.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	55.5%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.6%	18.9%
Asian	1.4%	6.3%
Under 18	22.0%	22.2%
65 and over	13.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Remerton, GA 2 mi Bemiss, GA 7 mi Dasher, GA 8 mi Moody AFB, GA 10 mi Hahira, GA 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Valdosta

Valdosta, GA is covered by 3 ZIP codes:

31601 31602 31698

Valdosta vs Other Cities

Valdosta, GA vs Remerton, GA Valdosta, GA vs Bemiss, GA Valdosta, GA vs Dasher, GA Valdosta, GA vs Moody AFB, GA Valdosta, GA vs Hahira, GA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Valdosta, GA affordable or expensive?

Valdosta's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average. That makes Valdosta roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $152,100 and median rent is $932/month.

What is the crime rate in Valdosta, GA?

Valdosta's violent crime rate is 555.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 4078.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Valdosta?

Public schools in Valdosta are operated by Lowndes County. The district has 7 elementary, 3 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1. 27.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Valdosta, GA a good place to live?

Valdosta, GA has a population of 55,266, a median household income of $41,365, and an unemployment rate of 5.7%. 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 Valdosta?

Valdosta averages 62.7°F in January and 91.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 54.6 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Valdosta?

Valdosta, GA is covered by 3 ZIP codes: 31601, 31602, 31698.

What is the population of Valdosta?

The population of Valdosta, Georgia is 55,266 with a median age of 29.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Valdosta?

Key numbers for living in Valdosta: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $152,100, median household income $41,365, crime index 165 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Valdosta side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.