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CITY

Sylvester

Georgia · 5,430 residents (2025 est.) · 6.568 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#209Fastest shrinkingof 6,642-8.8%
The short version

Sylvester has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $58,417. Population has declined 8% since 2000. 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $115,900. The poverty rate of 27.9% is well above the national figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 37.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
14% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
5,489
−8%since 2000
from 5,990 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
836 / sq mi
−8%since 2000
from 912 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
37.0
+15%since 2000
from 32.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:5,430 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
5K6K6K6K6K1990201020202024Sylvester
20245K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$58,417
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $24,114 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$27,453
+91%since 2000
from $14,387 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
29.6%
+13.6 ptssince 2009
from 16.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
27.9%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 27.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.470
−2%since 2010
from 0.477 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information14.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance10.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical9.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade7.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing6.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Retail trade5.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services4.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration1.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services1.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.4%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$115,900
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $58,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$896
+31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $375 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
57.0%
−1.2 ptssince 2000
from 58.2% in 2000
43.0% rent
Vacancy rate
12.3%
−4.0 ptssince 2009
from 16.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
19.6%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
from 23.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
38.6%
−16.1 ptssince 2009
from 54.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.0
−18%since 2000
from 2.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
46
RELATED:See current rent listings in Sylvester on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic38.9%(2,328)
Black59.8%(3,583)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(54)
Asian0.1%(7)
Other0%
Diversity Score61%(3,654)
2024
White, non-Hispanic36.3%(1,994)
Black56.5%(3,099)
Hispanic / Latino1.9%(104)
Asian1.2%(64)
Other4.2%(228)
Diversity Score68.4%(3,754)
Diversity Score
68
+12%since 2000
from 61 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
14.3%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 11.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
84.1%
+20.4 ptssince 2000
from 63.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2000
from 4.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.7 min
+46%since 2000
from 15.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.7%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 76.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
5.8%
−15.6 ptssince 2009
from 21.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
2.4%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
9.1%
+8.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.2%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
10.1%
−7.1 ptssince 2009
from 17.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.1%
−9.1 ptssince 2011
from 15.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
59.3%
+0.7 ptssince 2011
from 58.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.0%
−13.9 ptssince 2009
from 24.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
26.2%
−43.7 ptssince 2009
from 69.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
43.1%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 45.0% in 2009
Female
56.9%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 55.0% in 2009
Foreign born
0.9%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.0%
−36.8 ptssince 2009
from 43.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.4%
−0.4 ptssince 2012
from 16.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.5%
−63.9 ptssince 2013
from 74.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
72.9%
+6.1 ptssince 2017
from 66.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.7%
−0.9 ptssince 2016
from 99.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2016
from 0.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Sylvester to nearby cities

SYLVESTER VS
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Income$45,298−22%
Home value$196,200+69%
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SYLVESTER VS
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Home value$124,300+7%
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SYLVESTER VS
Moultrie
Income$43,670−25%
Home value$157,200+36%
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SYLVESTER VS
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Income$33,800−42%
Home value$121,500+5%
Population9,652+78%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Sylvester, Georgia?

Sylvester, Georgia has about 5,489 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Sylvester, Georgia?

The typical household in Sylvester, Georgia earns about $58,417 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Sylvester, Georgia expensive?

In Sylvester, Georgia, the median home is worth about $115,900, and the typical rent is about $896 a month.

How educated are people in Sylvester, Georgia?

About 14.3% of adults age 25 and over in Sylvester, Georgia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Sylvester, Georgia?

About 27.9% of people in Sylvester, Georgia live below the federal poverty line.

Has Sylvester, Georgia grown since 1990?

Yes, Sylvester, Georgia has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 213 residents, a change of about -4 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Sylvester, Georgia: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy