countyscore
54.1
County Score
Cost of Living 88.3Safety 83Disaster Risk 76.5

County Report Card

About Telfair County, Georgia

Stronger than the National Average

Telfair County secures a composite score of 55.9, beating the national median of 50.0. It provides a higher quality of life than many other rural American counties.

Leading the State Average

With a 55.9 score, Telfair outpaces the Georgia state average of 46.7 by a wide margin. It stands as a high-value destination for residents looking to stay in Georgia.

Supreme Affordability and Safety

The cost score is a massive 95.3, supported by very low $614 median rents. Safety is another major strength at 83.0, making it a secure place for residents.

Health and Economic Limitations

The health score is low at 12.6, and the income score of 7.2 reflects limited local wealth. Residents may find fewer medical facilities and high-paying jobs within county lines.

The Ultimate Budget Haven

Telfair is an excellent match for retirees or budget-focused individuals who want safe neighborhoods and extremely low bills. It offers incredible value with median home prices of $108,200.

2040608010027.588.38312.650.713.576.547.736.6Tax27.5Cost88.3Safety83Health12.6Schools50.7Income13.5Risk76.5Water47.7Weather36.654.1/100
This county
National avg
3 above average5 below average

Telfair County DNA

Foverall

How Telfair County compares to the national average across nine baseline dimensions

Telfair County is a tale of two counties — exceptional in Cost of Living (88.3/100) but notably weak in Income (13.5/100). This polarized profile creates distinct trade-offs for residents.

Dimension Breakdown

Tax
27.5-24.5
Cost
88.3+40.3
Safety
83+28
Health
12.6-37.4
Schools
50.7
Income
13.5-37.5
Risk
76.5+29.5
Water
47.7-10.299999999999997
Weather
36.6-19.4
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Can You Afford to Live Here?

Median Home Price

$113,300

National median: $185,300

Median Rent

$712/mo

National median: $877/mo

Income Needed (home)

$113,300/yr

28% front-end rule

Income Needed (rent)

$28,480/yr

30% rent rule

Affordability Spectrum2.2x income
AffordableNational avgExpensive
Local median income: $50,929/yr
Compare Mortgage Rates

Economic & Education Snapshot

Data from Federal Reserve (FRED), U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, and CMS NPPES.

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncome & Jobsincomebycounty.comSafetycrimebycounty.comHealthhealthbycounty.comSchoolsschoolsbycounty.comDisaster Riskriskbycounty.comWater Qualitywaterbycounty.comWeather & Climateweatherbycounty.comSoil Qualitysoilbycounty.comLawn Carelawnbycounty.comFarmers Marketsmarketsbycounty.comView on Mapcountyscore.com/map
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Counties with similar scores

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Rice County
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Waldo County
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Jefferson Davis County
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Miller County
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Nearby counties

Wheeler County
Georgia
62.4
Ben Hill County
Georgia
37.4
Jeff Davis County
Georgia
46.8
Dodge County
Georgia
44.7
Coffee County
Georgia
48
Wilcox County
Georgia
60.8
Montgomery County
Georgia
33.4
Irwin County
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42.6

Deep Dives

Telfair County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 8 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Telfair County

via TaxByCounty

Telfair's rate exceeds U.S. norm

Telfair County's effective tax rate of 1.091% is roughly 21% higher than the national median of 0.898%, placing it in the upper quartile of U.S. counties by tax burden. Despite this elevated rate, annual taxes on the median home value of $108,200 total just $1,181, far below the national median tax.

Above-average by Georgia standards

Telfair County's 1.091% rate exceeds Georgia's average of 0.898% by about 22%, ranking it in the higher-tax portion of the state's 159 counties. Telfair residents shoulder a notably above-average burden within Georgia.

Mid-range in the eight-county group

Telfair's 1.091% rate sits between Talbot (1.088%) and Tattnall (1.018%), making it firmly middle-of-the-pack in the region. It's considerably lower than Sumter (1.321%) and Taliaferro (1.254%).

What a $108,200 home costs

A median-valued home in Telfair County generates an annual property tax bill of approximately $1,181. With a mortgage, that reaches $1,600; without mortgage benefits, it dips to $970.

Appeal if values seem high

Telfair homeowners facing higher-than-expected tax bills should review their assessment notices and compare their property's value to recent local sales. A successful appeal can reduce your burden significantly.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Income & Jobs in Telfair County

via IncomeByCounty

Telfair's income trails national average

Telfair County's median household income of $44,948 is 40% below the U.S. median of $74,755, placing it among lower-income American counties. Despite this gap, Telfair earns modestly more than the very lowest rural Georgia counties, reflecting slight relative advantage.

Lower-middle tier within Georgia

At $44,948, Telfair's median household income falls $15,540 short of Georgia's county average of $60,488. The county ranks in Georgia's lower tier, sharing economic characteristics with other rural interior communities across the state.

Part of rural income plateau

Telfair's $44,948 sits between Taylor ($41,743) and Terrell ($43,812), occupying the middle of a tightly-clustered group of rural counties. This $41,000-$45,000 income band characterizes much of central Georgia's economic structure.

Housing affordability anchors stability

Telfair's rent-to-income ratio of 16.4% means families spend just one-sixth of income on housing, well below the 30% threshold. The median home value of $108,200 remains accessible, allowing households to invest in homeownership and build equity.

Build wealth on modest income foundation

With housing costs consuming only 16% of income, Telfair residents at $44,948 can direct meaningful savings toward retirement and investment accounts. Financial discipline—automating savings and avoiding debt—multiplies wealth-building potential regardless of income level.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Safety in Telfair County

via CrimeByCounty

Excellent Safety in Telfair

Telfair County earns a high safety score of 99.4, with a total crime rate of only 404.1 per 100K. This is far below the national average of 2,385.5, reflecting a very safe local environment.

State Rankings and Performance

The county outperforms the Georgia state average safety score of 97.8 significantly. Its crime rate of 404.1 per 100K is much lower than the state-wide average of 1,412.9.

Leading the Region in Safety

Telfair is one of the safest counties in its region, showing much less crime than Tattnall (872.1) or Terrell (699.7). Five local reporting agencies contribute to this high-ranking safety profile.

Property and Violent Crime Data

Property crime occurs at a rate of 261.5 per 100K, while violent crime remains low at 142.6. Both figures are well under national benchmarks, making it a low-risk area for residents.

Proactive Home Protection

Since property crime is the most common incident type, basic deterrents are very effective here. Ensuring that windows and doors are properly locked can help maintain the county's excellent safety record.

Full safety analysis on CrimeByCounty

Soil Quality in Telfair County

via SoilByCounty

Acidic Soils in Telfair

Detailed taxonomic and pH figures are missing, but regional expectations suggest a pH near the state average of 5.26. This indicates the soil is more acidic than the national median of 6.5.

The Search for Sand

We lack specific data on the sand-to-clay ratio for Telfair at this time. Knowing these levels helps growers decide whether they need to add organic bulk or improve drainage.

Organic Potential in Telfair

No specific organic matter percentage is listed, so we use the state benchmark of 1.83% as a guide. Adding mulch and compost can help local soils reach the national organic matter average of 2.0%.

Local Hydrologic Patterns

Data for drainage classes and hydrologic groups are currently unavailable for this county. Residents should monitor their property for runoff patterns to better understand their specific land's behavior.

Grow Boldly in Zone 8b

Telfair County resides in Hardiness Zone 8b, which features a long growing season with mild winters. This climate is excellent for growing robust summer crops like squash and melons.

Full soil quality analysis on SoilByCounty

Lawn Care in Telfair County

via LawnByCounty

Telfair Lawns Outperform the Georgia Average

Telfair County has a lawn difficulty score of 37.6, which is slightly better than the Georgia state average of 35.8. While it remains more challenging than the national median of 50.0, the conditions are manageable for dedicated gardeners. Zone 8b provides a familiar environment for traditional southern lawn care.

Warmer Temperatures Require Extra Care

The county experiences 76 extreme heat days per year, which is 11 days more than the state average. With an average July temperature of 82.5°F, turf can quickly become heat-stressed if not monitored. Annual precipitation of 47.6 inches provides a decent water foundation but requires supplemental irrigation during peak summer.

The Importance of Local Soil Analysis

With no specific local data on soil pH or drainage, homeowners should prioritize a soil test to guide their amendments. Aiming for a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 is standard for most southern turfgrasses to ensure optimal health. Addressing any clay or sand imbalances early will make the 76 heat days easier on your grass.

Sustaining Turf Through Severe Drought

Telfair County has faced 28 weeks of drought in the past year, and 100% of the area is in a Severe Drought (D2+). During these times, focus on deep root growth by watering heavily but less frequently. This strategy helps your lawn survive even when the 47.6 inches of rain fails to arrive.

Warm-Season Grasses Excel in Telfair

Resilient varieties like Centipede and Zoysia are ideal for the hot summers and Zone 8b winters in Telfair. Without specific frost dates available, look for signs of spring in late March before you begin major lawn projects. Starting in the spring allows your grass to establish before the 76 days of extreme heat set in.

Full lawn care analysis on LawnByCounty

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Telfair County's county score?
Telfair County, Georgia has a composite county score of 54.1 out of 100 on CountyScore. This score is calculated from a weighted average of available data dimensions including property tax, cost of living, income, safety, health, and schools.
How does Telfair County rank among counties in Georgia?
Telfair County ranks #37 among all counties in Georgia on CountyScore's composite ranking. Rankings are based on available data dimensions and updated as new data is added.
What are property taxes like in Telfair County, Georgia?
The median annual property tax in Telfair County is $1,269, with an effective tax rate of 1.12%. This earns Telfair County a tax score of 27.5/100 on CountyScore (higher = lower taxes).
What is the median household income in Telfair County?
The median household income in Telfair County, Georgia is $50,929 per year according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Telfair County earns an income score of 13.5/100 on CountyScore.
Is Telfair County, Georgia a good place to live?
Telfair County scores 54.1/100 on CountyScore's overall county ranking, ranking #37 in Georgia. The best way to evaluate Telfair County is to compare individual dimension scores — property tax, cost of living, income, safety, health, and schools — based on your personal priorities. Use CountyScore to compare Telfair County with other counties side by side.
By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

ByCounty Network

Property TaxCost of LivingIncome & JobsSafetyHealthSchoolsDisaster RiskWater QualityWeather & ClimateSoil QualityLawn CareFarmers Markets

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS, NOAA — informational only.