Population 5,940 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Dawson
Household size in Dawson
| Period | Dawson | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.67 | 2.70 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.84 | 2.77 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.53 | 2.75 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.72 | 2.73 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.05 | +0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Dawson average 2.72 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). Household size has crept up from 2.67 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the west and smallest in the south.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Dawson
| Period | Dawson | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.6 | 36.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.3 | 36.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.7 | 38.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.3 | 38.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.6 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Dawson are younger than 39.3 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 35.6 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in the northwest and oldest in the south.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Dawson
| Period | Dawson | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.5% | 13.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.6% | 13.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 27.2% | 13.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 20.4% | 13.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −8.1 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in five households in Dawson (20.4%), well above the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 8.1 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only 23 of the 282 Georgia cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Dawson
Renters in Dawson
| Period | Dawson | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 48.5% | 32.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 49.9% | 35.8% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 51.5% | 36.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 48.8% | 34.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in Dawson than nationally: 48.8% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. Among homeowners, 58.6% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the east and least common in the southwest.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Dawson
| Period | Dawson | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.8% | 13.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 23.9% | 13.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 16.7% | 11.6% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 22.0% | 10.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +5.2 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 22.0% of the housing in Dawson, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy has risen 5.2 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Dawson
| Period | Dawson | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1974 | 1985 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1972 | 1987 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1973 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1974 | 1991 | 1980 |
| Change | −0 | +6 | +6 |
Housing in Dawson leans a little older: the median home dates to 1974, against 1980 nationally. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the center has the oldest housing. Of the 282 Georgia cities with 5,000+ people, only 14 have older homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Dawson
| Period | Dawson | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $481 | $910 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $599 | $977 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $661 | $1,112 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $784 | $1,520 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$303 | +$609 | +$606 |
Rent in Dawson runs $784 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $303 a month from 2006–10, a 63% jump, roughly in step with the nation. The typical renter here spends 30.7% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the northwest; the highest are in the south.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Dawson
Bachelor's degrees in Dawson
| Period | Dawson | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.1% | 28.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.0% | 28.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 11.4% | 31.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.2% | 35.1% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Dawson have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 12.2%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree has risen 3.1 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only 15 of the 282 Georgia cities with 5,000+ people have a lower share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Dawson
| Period | Dawson | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 63.7% | 84.1% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 65.3% | 85.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 76.7% | 87.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 79.8% | 89.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +16.1 pts | +5.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in five adults in Dawson never finished high school, well above the national share: only 79.8% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma has risen 16.1 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only 23 of the 282 Georgia cities with 5,000+ people have a lower share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Dawson
| Period | Dawson | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.2% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 20.0% | 10.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.6% | 5.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.2% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −12.0 pts | −3.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs a little high in Dawson: 6.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is down 12.0 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Dawson compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dawson | 2.72 | 39.3 | 20.4% | 48.8% | 22.0% | 1974 | $784 | 12.2% | 79.8% | 6.2% |
| Yeomans | 2.66 | 38.1 | 15.9% | 28.1% | 16.5% | 1983 | $721 | 15.6% | 94.1% | 2.4% |
| Graves | 2.74 | 40.6 | 18.9% | 21.0% | 25.8% | 1977 | $766 | 20.1% | 91.8% | 1.0% |
| Bronwood | 2.09 | 52.4 | 5.8% | 25.9% | 19.0% | 1979 | $718 | 11.1% | 83.1% | 1.2% |
| Herod | 2.81 | 37.3 | 29.1% | 35.5% | 23.3% | 1978 | $770 | 19.1% | 84.6% | 0.3% |
| Doverel | 2.89 | 37.9 | 30.2% | 34.6% | 24.9% | 1975 | $766 | 17.6% | 85.7% | 0.0% |
| Sasser | 2.29 | 44.6 | 6.6% | 19.2% | 11.3% | 1992 | $676 | 18.2% | 77.8% | 4.0% |
| Parrott | 2.20 | 49.5 | 2.2% | 9.9% | 15.7% | 1973 | $544 | 20.7% | 79.3% | 2.8% |
| Shellman | 2.45 | 43.6 | 11.7% | 35.4% | 22.6% | 1974 | $825 | 15.9% | 81.5% | 15.7% |
| Oakland | 2.56 | 41.5 | 15.6% | 30.3% | 9.8% | 2004 | $1,116 | 51.4% | 87.5% | 4.3% |
| Neyami | 2.71 | 41.8 | 10.9% | 16.5% | 11.3% | 1993 | $880 | 24.3% | 87.9% | 3.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Manorhaven, NY · Midway Park, NC · Midway, FL · Midland City, AL · Midfield, AL · Middlebury, CT · Metamora, MI · Marriottsville, MD · Marlow Heights, MD · Mansfield, LA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Dawson. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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