Valdosta, GA

Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)

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2020 Population

146,462

0.789% 1-year growth

US Senator

Jon Ossoff

Democratic Party

US Senator

Raphael Warnock

Democratic Party

2018 Median Age

1.27% 1-year increase

2020 Poverty Rate

23.1%

4.06% 1-year decrease

2020 Median Household Income

$43,859

5.31% 1-year growth

2020 Median Property Value

$137,300

3.94% 1-year growth

2020 Employed Population

60,235

1.68% 1-year growth

About

In 2020, Valdosta, GA had a population of 146k people with a median age of 32 and a median household income of $43,859. Between 2019 and 2020 the population of Valdosta, GA grew from 145,315 to 146,462, a 0.789% increase and its median household income grew from $41,647 to $43,859, a 5.31% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Valdosta, GA are White (Non-Hispanic) (54.6%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (34.8%), White (Hispanic) (2.94%), Other (Hispanic) (2.33%), and Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (2.3%).

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.

98.1% of the residents in Valdosta, GA are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Valdosta, GA are Valdosta State University (2,550 degrees awarded in 2020) and Wiregrass Georgia Technical College (2,031 degrees).

In 2020, the median property value in Valdosta, GA was $137,300, and the homeownership rate was 55.8%.

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.

Population & Diversity

Valdosta, GA is home to a population of 146k people, from which 98.1% are citizens. As of 2020, 3.57% of Valdosta, GA residents were born outside of the country (5.23k people).

In 2020, there were 1.57 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (80k people) in Valdosta, GA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 51k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 4.3k White (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

98.1%

2020 Citizenship

98.3%

2019 Citizenship

As of 2020, 98.1% of Valdosta, GA residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2019, the percentage of US citizens in Valdosta, GA was 98.3%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

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)
80k ± 416
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
51k ± 518
White (Hispanic)
4.3k ± 653

6.48%

Hispanic Population

9.5k people

6.48% of the people in Valdosta, GA are hispanic (9.5k 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
234,298 ± 11,751 people
India
98,606 ± 7,673 people
Jamaica
44,462 ± 5,166 people

In 2020, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Georgia was Mexico, the natal country of 234,298 Georgia residents, followed by India with 98,606 and Jamaica with 44,462.

Foreign-Born Population

3.57%

2020 Foreign-Born Population

5.23k people

3.24%

2019 Foreign-Born Population

4.71k people

As of 2020, 3.57% of Valdosta, GA residents (5.23k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.5%. In 2019, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Valdosta, GA was 3.24%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

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-)
3,723 ± 632
Vietnam
2,246 ± 310
Gulf War (1990s)
1,586 ± 278

Valdosta, GA has a large population of military personnel who served in Gulf War (2001-), 1.66 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Valdosta, GA employs 60.2k people. The largest industries in Valdosta, GA are Retail Trade (9,178 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (8,078 people), and Educational Services (6,426 people), and the highest paying industries are Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($75,650), Wholesale Trade ($47,726), and Transportation & Warehousing ($45,474).

Males in Georgia have an average income that is 1.35 times higher than the average income of females, which is $51,276. The income inequality in Georgia (measured using the Gini index) is 0.476, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

60.2k

2020 Value

± 2,167

1.68%

1 Year growth

± 4.9%

From 2019 to 2020, employment in Valdosta, GA grew at a rate of 1.68%, from 59.2k employees to 60.2k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Valdosta, GA, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (8,614 people), Sales & Related Occupations (7,473 people), and Management Occupations (4,771 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 Georgia.

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.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

60.2k

2020 Value

± 2,167

1.68%

1 Year growth

± 4.9%

From 2019 to 2020, employment in Valdosta, GA grew at a rate of 1.68%, from 59.2k employees to 60.2k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Valdosta, GA, are Retail Trade (9,178 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (8,078 people), and Educational Services (6,426 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

$36,654

Median earning men ± $1,421

$25,791

Median earning women ± $1,054

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2020 are Wholesale Trade ($52,602), Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($50,762), and Information ($47,250).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2020 are Construction ($35,466), Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($33,171), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($32,270).

Employment by Industry Sector

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

Y-Axis

8.45%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between May 2020 and May 2021

As of May 2021, there are 145M people employed in Georgia. This represents a 8.45% increase in employment when compared to May 2020.

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

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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 $68.9B, followed by Mixed freight ($63.5B) and Electronics ($51.2B).

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

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for Georgia.

$626B

2020 Value in Georgia

$1.3T

Projected 2050 Value in Georgia

108% growth

In 2020, total outbound Georgia trade was $626B. This is expected to increase 108% 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
$57.7B
Tennessee
$34B
North Carolina
$30.2B

In 2020, the top outbound Georgia domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was Florida with $57.7B, followed by Tennessee with $34B and North Carolina and $30.2B.

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

Civics

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.

Senators 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

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 Representatives 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 2020, universities in Valdosta, GA awarded 4,581 degrees. The student population of Valdosta, GA in 2020 is skewed towards women, with 5,219 male students and 10,794 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Valdosta, GA are White (2,607 and 57.7%), followed by Black or African American (1,464 and 32.4%), Hispanic or Latino (285 and 6.31%), and Two or More Races (103 and 2.28%).

The largest universities in Valdosta, GA by number of degrees awarded are Valdosta State University (2,550 and 55.7%) and Wiregrass Georgia Technical College (2,031 and 44.3%).

The most popular majors in Valdosta, GA are Licensed Practical & Vocational Nurse Training (208 and 4.54%), General Cosmetology (184 and 4.02%), and General Business Administration & Management (184 and 4.02%).

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 2020 in Valdosta, GA, the percentage of applicants admitted was 78.4%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 33.7%. The number of students enrolled in 2020 was 16,013 (32.6% men and 67.4% 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 2020 there were 16,013 students enrolled in Valdosta, GA, 32.6% men and 67.4% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 7,763 records, of which 66.6% were women and 33.4% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Organizational Leadership
107 degree-majors awarded
General Business Administration & Management
119 degree-majors awarded
General Psychology
107 degree-majors awarded

In 2020, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Valdosta, GA was Organizational Leadership with 107 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
2,550 degrees awarded
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
2,031 degrees awarded

In 2020, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Valdosta State University with 2,550 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2020, 1,754 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Valdosta, GA, which is 0.62 times less than the 2,827 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2020 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 2,607 degrees mean that there were 1.78 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 1,464 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 2020.

Public, 4-year or above ($2,212) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2020.

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 2020, 0.952% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.869% 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 2020 were High School or Equivalent (2.28M), Some college (1.79M), and Bachelors Degree (1.47M).

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 $137,300 in 2020, which is 0.597 times smaller than the national average of $229,800. Between 2019 and 2020 the median property value increased from $132,100 to $137,300, a 3.94% increase. The homeownership rate in Valdosta, GA is 55.8%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 64.4%.

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 $43,859. In 2020, the county with the highest Median Household Income in Valdosta, GA was Forsyth County, GA with a value of $112,834, followed by Oconee County, GA and Fayette County, GA, with respective values of $95,064 and $93,777.

Housing

Property

$137,300

Median Property Value 2020

±$4,392

$30,388

Median Property Taxes

±$1,302

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

55.8%

Homeownership

2020

66.1%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2020

In 2020, 55.8% of the housing units in Valdosta, GA were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 56.2%.

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 2020, the county with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Valdosta, GA was Forsyth County, GA with a value of $112,834, followed by Oconee County, GA and Fayette County, GA, with respective values of $95,064 and $93,777.

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.

$43,859

Median Household Income

± $1,799

54.5k

Number of Households

± 1,974

In 2020, the median household income of the 54.5k households in Valdosta, GA grew to $43,859 from the previous year's value of $41,647.

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.

0.476

2020 Wage GINI in Georgia

0.477

2019 Wage GINI in Georgia

In 2020, the income inequality in Georgia was 0.476 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.302% decline from 2019 to 2020, 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 2020

Drove Alone (82.8%)
Carpooled (9.26%)
Worked At Home (2.91%)

In 2020, 82.8% of workers in Valdosta, GA drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (9.26%) and those who worked at home (2.91%).

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 (26.9 minutes). Additionally, 1.87% 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

23.1% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Valdosta, GA (32.8k out of 142k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.8%. 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

84.7% of the population of Valdosta, GA has health coverage, with 40.9% on employee plans, 11.9% on Medicaid, 8.99% on Medicare, 17.5% on non-group plans, and 5.43% on military or VA plans.

Per capita personal health care spending in Georgia was $6,587 in 2014. This is a 5.41% increase from the previous year ($6,249).

Primary care physicians in Georgia see 1508 patients per year on average, which represents a 1.31% decrease from the previous year (1528 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1921 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 691 patients per year.

COVID-19

Daily New Cases by Date

Showing data at the state level for Georgia. Hospitalization data for some states may be delayed or not reported.

Y-Axis

This chart shows the number of COVID-19 daily new cases by date in Georgia, as a 7-day rolling average, compared with the four states with the most similar number of confirmed cases.

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Patient to Clinician Ratios

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

1,508 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Georgia

Primary care physicians in Georgia see an average of 1,508 patients per year. This represents a 1.31% decrease from the previous year (1,528 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.

Community Mobility

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

This chart presents movement trends over time in the state of Georgia across different categories of places such as retail and recreation, groceries and pharmacies, parks, transit stations, workplaces, and residential.

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Coverage

Health Care Diversity

In 2020, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 26.8% under 18 years, 26% between 18 and 34 years, 33.6% between 35 and 64 years, and 13.5% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 46.2% were men and 53.8% were women.

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

Uninsured People

15.3%

Uninsured

40.9%

Employer Coverage

11.9%

Medicaid

8.99%

Medicare

17.5%

Non-Group

5.43%

Military or VA

Between 2019 and 2020, the percent of uninsured citizens in Valdosta, GA declined by 0.816% from 15.4% to 15.3%.

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.