Folkston is a city in and the county seat of Charlton County, Georgia, United States. The population was 4,464 in 2020. The largest employer in Folkston is a GEO Group-operated ICE detention center with 3,000 beds.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Folkston ranks

All →

#1Cheapest rent in GA #4Lowest depression in GA #7Most affordable in GA All GA rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code31537

Area code912

Living in Folkston

Housing in Folkston

$209K▲ 1.1% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Folkston home is worth about $209,000, up 1.1% in a year, 37% below the Georgia typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Folkston

A⁻

Safety Grade A-

Folkston reports less crime per resident than 81% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.

Violent crime per 1,000

Folkston 0.8

Georgia 3

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Folkston 4.6

Georgia 14

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Folkston

Full picture →

About one in 5 of Folkston’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Jacksonville (7%), Waycross (4%) and Kingsland (3%). Half commute less than 39 miles.

Jacksonville, FL

Waycross

Kingsland

Brunswick

20%Work in townlive and work in Folkston 39 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 1,588Jobs based herea job hub

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Folkston →

Health in Folkston

C⁻

Health Grade C−

Healthier than 16% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 38% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Georgia

3better than GA·16worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 13 are too close to call.

Conditions 3▲ 2▼ 7 close Habits 2▼ 2 close Care 6▼ 1 close Mind 2▼ 3 close Everyday needs 4▼ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

4.7%Fewer adults who have had cancerGA 7% · better 8.5%Fewer adults with asthmaGA 10.1% · better 27.6%More uninsured adultsGA 13.1% · worse

Care nearby

Southeast Georgia Health System -- Camden CampusSaint Marys · 23.6 mi · ER

Mckinney Community Health CenterFolkston · 0.5 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Folkston · CMS · HRSAHealth in Folkston →

Natural hazards in Folkston

Very high

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 83% of U.S. communities.

🌀 Hurricanes🌊 Inland flooding

5Does Folkston flood?paid flood claims since 1998 3Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Folkston

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Folkston →

Climate in Folkston

Full climate →

Folkston has warm winters and hot summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 93°, a January night drops to 40°, and snow is almost unheard of.

66° / 42°Winter

80° / 55°Spring

92° / 71°Summer

80° / 58°Fall

How much snow does Folkston get?Almost none.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Dec 7, with the last in spring around Feb 26.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.4° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Folkston →

Schools in Folkston

All Folkston schools →

School Grade B

The public schools Folkston’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 55% of Georgia’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

#89Best public schoolsof 231 in GA

DistrictCharlton CountySchools3

Folkston Elementary School B+Elementary · Grades PK–4 · 545 students Bethune Middle School B-Middle · Grades 5–8 · 453 students Charlton County High School C+High · Grades 9–12 · 417 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within GA. Ratings are from neighbors.