Baxley, Georgia
Seal of Georgia
Baxley · Appling County, Georgia
Population 4,971 (est. 2026: ~4,700)
Source: Census ACS 2023 · ACS 2023 + -1.67% annual growth projection

Baxley, Georgia

Appling County, Georgia · Population 4,942

Baxley sits at the center of Appling County in the coastal plain of southeast Georgia, about 65 miles northwest of Brunswick and roughly 80 miles southwest of Savannah. The Altamaha River forms the county's northern edge, and longleaf pine and timber land dominate the landscape in every direction. This is the county seat, which means Baxley carries the courts, the county schools, and the main commercial strip for a rural area where the next meaningful town is a significant drive. It is a small, working-class city with modest housing costs, a tight labor market, and a disaster history shaped by every major storm system that has crossed the Georgia coast in the past decade.

People & Demographics

Baxley's population of 4,971 represents roughly 27% of Appling County's 18,444 residents — a majority of the county's urban population concentrated in one small city. The median age is 39.5. Of 4,971 residents, 3,113 identify as white, 1,244 as Black, and 91 as Asian. The Hispanic and Latino population stands at 676, reflecting a meaningful presence in local agriculture and poultry-related industries. Average household size is 2.48, and there are 1,389 children under 18 — a substantial share of the population that puts real pressure on the school system. Of 1,928 occupied households, 1,187 are family households.

Economy & Employment

The economic picture in Baxley is constrained. Median household income is $27,303 — well below Georgia's statewide median, which routinely runs above $60,000. Per capita income sits at $19,623. Of 4,971 residents, 1,180 fall below the federal poverty line, a poverty rate approaching 24%. The labor force counts 1,602 workers, with 158 unemployed — an unemployment rate near 10% within the labor force. Timber, agriculture, poultry processing, and county government are the core employment sectors in the area. Healthcare employment through Appling Healthcare provides additional anchor jobs. The narrow economic base means many residents commute out of the county for better-paying work, and local wages reflect a rural Georgia market with limited corporate presence.

Housing

Housing in Baxley is among the most affordable in Georgia by sticker price. The median home value is $88,300. Median rent runs $687 per month. Of 2,515 total housing units, 1,928 are occupied and 587 sit vacant — a vacancy rate of about 23%, which is high and reflects both population stability and the economic limits on household formation. Owner-occupied units number 1,040; renter-occupied units number 888. The split is fairly even, with renters making up 46% of occupied households. For buyers, the price point is accessible by any Georgia standard, though the income base means mortgage qualification can still be a barrier for many households.

Schools

Appling County operates a consolidated school district serving both city and county students. All schools are located in or near Baxley.

Total enrollment across the district exceeds 3,300 students. The two elementary schools together serve over 1,500 students, suggesting significant consolidation at the primary level. Families have no meaningful private school alternative nearby, making the public district the effective sole option for most residents.

Getting Around

Baxley is car-dependent with no exceptions. Of 1,444 workers, 1,126 drive alone to work and 278 carpool. Zero workers use public transit. Eleven walk to work. Zero report working from home. Aggregate travel time for all workers totals 27,810 minutes, averaging roughly 19 minutes per worker — relatively short by Georgia standards, suggesting most jobs remain local or within the immediate county. There is no fixed-route transit service. A vehicle is essential for daily life, grocery access, and medical appointments beyond the local hospital.

Healthcare

Appling Healthcare operates the local hospital serving Baxley and the surrounding county. It functions as the primary acute-care facility for residents who cannot reach larger systems in Brunswick or Savannah without significant travel. For a broader list of individual licensed providers in Baxley, the NPI Registry offers a current provider search: NPI Registry — Baxley, GA. For specialized care, residents typically travel to Savannah or Brunswick, both roughly an hour's drive under good conditions.

Library

The Appling County Public Library serves Baxley and the surrounding county. Contact: (912) 367-8103. It is the county's sole public library and functions as a critical resource for residents without home internet access — a real consideration in a county at this income level.

Natural Hazards

Appling County has been declared a federal disaster area 15 times since 2005, a frequency that signals genuine, repeated exposure to severe weather events — not a technicality. The declared events include:

The pattern is consistent: this part of Georgia sits in the path of Atlantic and Gulf storm systems that track inland and retain destructive wind and rainfall well past the coast. Residents should treat hurricane preparedness as standard practice, not an exception.

Government & Municipal Code

Baxley operates under a municipal code published through Municode: Baxley City Code. No locally adopted building code is recorded in the available data. Residents and contractors should verify current building requirements directly with city or county offices before beginning construction or renovation projects.

Weather

Current forecasts and conditions for the Baxley area are available through the National Weather Service: NWS Forecast — Baxley, GA. Active alerts: Weather Alerts. The nearest official weather observation station is BAXLEY 1.8 SSE, approximately 1.2 miles from the city center.

References

The law belongs to the people. Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 590 U.S. (2020)