C

Thomaston, GA

Source:

Affordability Score: 55/100

Population: 23,490 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Thomaston, GA aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 23,490 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of C (55/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $55,087, median home value of $168,600, median rent of $849 per month, and 15.9% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $973 per month (studio $828, 1BR $888, 3BR $1,283, 4BR $1,288). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $5,642 per year, consuming 10% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Strengths visible in the raw data for Thomaston, GA include rent. Pressure points are education. Unemployment currently reads 3.8% and poverty 20.6% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income D
$55,087
Median household income
Education F
15.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing B-
3.1x
Home value $168,600 vs income
Commute D
26 min
Average commute time
Rent B+
$973/mo
2BR fair market rent (21% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare B
$5,642/yr
Center-based infant care (10% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$55,087
▼ 11% vs national
Per Capita Income
$30,426
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Poverty Rate
20.6%

Housing

Median Home Value
$168,600
▼ 39% vs national
Median Rent
$849/mo
Owner Occupied
58.6%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$973/mo
▼ 19% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$828
1BR
$888
2BR
$973
3BR
$1,283
4BR
$1,288

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
15.9%
▼ 14 ppt vs national
High School+
54.7%
Median Age
39.6
Avg. Commute
26 min
▲ 0 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$5,642/yr
10% of income
Toddler (Center)
$5,304/yr
Preschool (Center)
$5,304/yr
School-Age (Center)
$2,860/yr

What This Means

Thomaston, GA receives an overall affordability grade of C (55/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 23,490. This area performs well in rent. Challenges include education. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Thomaston, GA affordable?
Thomaston, GA receives an overall affordability grade of C (55/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $55,087. Median home value is $168,600.
What is the cost of living in Thomaston?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $849/mo. 2BR fair market rent $973/mo. Infant childcare $5,642/yr. Median home value $168,600.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →