Valdosta, GA · standard
ZIP Code 31602
Lowndes County, Georgia - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 34,702
- 329/sq mi High-density area
- $56,939
- Median income Below-median income area
- $217,300
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 32.1%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Valdosta pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.
- 24th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 48th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 329
- people per sq mi
- 44%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 31602 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 31602 (Valdosta, GA) rose +11.7% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 175.8 in 2023 to 196.3 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 31602 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, with 34,702 residents across 105.6 square miles, a density of 329 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 31602 reports a modest median household income of $56,939 (19% below the average Georgia ZIP), while per-capita income is $29,723. The poverty rate is 24.1%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Median home value is $217,300 (10% below the average Georgia ZIP) and median rent is $1,100; 43.6% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 32.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 30.6, and the average commute is 17 minutes. The page also surfaces 5 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Lowndes County, so 31602 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 31602
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Valdosta, GA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 31602.
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
242 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
179 establishments
- Finance and insurance
Finance and insurance
97 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
97 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services 92
Professional, scientific, and technical services
92 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 31602, Valdosta, GA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
34,702
Population
105.6
Area (sq mi)
329
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 31602?
30.6
Median Age
48.0%
Male
52.0%
Female
4.1%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$56,939
Median Household Income
-19% vs state ZIP avg
$29,723
Per Capita Income
24.1%
Poverty Rate
5.6%
Unemployment Rate
17.3 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 31602 ranks nationally
Valdosta, GA household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$56,939 24th percentile higher than 24% of 30,318 US ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
16,059housing units
16,059
Total Housing Units
14,481
Occupied Units
1,578
Vacant Units
2.36
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$217,300
Median Home Value
-10% vs state ZIP avg
$1,100
Median Rent
1988
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+11.7%
YoY Change (2024)
196
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+96%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 31602 have increased 11.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +96% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.4% | 131 |
| 2021 | +11.6% | 146 |
| 2022 | +15.0% | 168 |
| 2023 | +4.7% | 176 |
| 2024 | +11.7% | 196 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 1,081 business establishments in ZIP 31602, employing approximately 15,007 people with a combined annual payroll of $653,062,000.
1,081
Businesses
15,007
Employees
$653.1M
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 242 | 22.4% |
| Retail trade | 179 | 16.6% |
| Finance and insurance | 97 | 9.0% |
| Accommodation and food services | 97 | 9.0% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 92 | 8.5% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 85 | 7.9% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 75 | 6.9% |
| Construction | 67 | 6.2% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 39 | 3.6% |
| Wholesale trade | 38 | 3.5% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 14 | 1.3% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 14 | 1.3% |
| Educational services | 13 | 1.2% |
| Information | 12 | 1.1% |
| Manufacturing | 9 | 0.8% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 4 | 0.4% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 31602 vs 31698 →
ZIP 31602 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 31602
Valdosta (31602)
34,702 residents
- 31601
Valdosta (31601)
32,730 residents
- 31605
Valdosta (31605)
20,188 residents
- 31632 10,295
Hahira (31632)
10,295 residents
- 31698 2,223
Valdosta (31698)
2,223 residents
- 31699 621
Moody Afb (31699)
621 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 31602 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 31602 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 31632
Hahira (31632)
$83,946 median income
- 31605
Valdosta (31605)
$79,156 median income
- 31602
Valdosta (31602)
$56,939 median income
- 31601
Valdosta (31601)
$36,111 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 31602 ranks #3 of 4 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 31602, both outside GA so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (34,702 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Lowndes County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 31602 in?
ZIP code 31602 (Valdosta) is located in Lowndes County, Georgia. Lowndes County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/lowndes-ga.
What is the population of ZIP code 31602?
ZIP code 31602 in Valdosta, GA has a population of 34,702 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 31602?
The median household income in ZIP 31602 is $56,939, which is 25% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 31602?
The median home value in ZIP 31602 is $217,300, which is 22% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 31602?
The largest racial group in ZIP 31602 is White at 48.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 6.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 31602?
ZIP code 31602 has 1,081 business establishments employing approximately 15,007 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 31602?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 31602 are: Health care and social assistance (242), Retail trade (179), Finance and insurance (97). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 31602?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 31602 increased by 11.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 96%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 31602?
In ZIP code 31602, 62.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 32.1% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 31602?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 31602 is 17.3 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 31602?
In ZIP code 31602, approximately 43.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 56.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 31602?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 31602 is 24.1% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 31602's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 31602 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Valdosta, GA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.