Eastman, Georgia
Seal of Georgia
Eastman · Dodge County, Georgia
Population 5,624 (est. 2026: ~5,500)
Source: Census ACS 2023 · ACS 2023 + -0.71% annual growth projection

Eastman, Georgia

Dodge County, Georgia · Population 5,658

Eastman sits at the center of Dodge County in south-central Georgia, roughly 130 miles southeast of Atlanta and about 60 miles west of Savannah's orbit. It functions as the county seat and the commercial hub for a largely rural stretch of the Coastal Plain. The town is small enough that almost everyone knows the major employers, but large enough to anchor its own school district, hospital, and library. Life here runs at a pace shaped by agriculture, light industry, and the rhythms of a working-class county — median household income sits well below the Georgia state median, housing costs are among the most accessible in the state, and the community has weathered a notable string of natural disasters over the past three decades.

People & Demographics

Eastman's 5,635 residents are spread across 1,981 households, with an average household size of 2.67. The median age is 38.5. Racially, the population is roughly 76% White, 22% Black, and less than 1% Asian, with a Hispanic or Latino community of 440 — about 8% of the total. Children under 18 account for 1,332 residents, meaning nearly one in four people here is school-age. Dodge County as a whole counts 19,925 residents, making Eastman home to roughly 28% of the county's population — a meaningful concentration for a county seat in rural Georgia.

Economy & Employment

The labor force stands at 2,146 workers, with 44 unemployed — a low raw count but reflecting a workforce that skews toward manual and service occupations. Median household income is $41,213, which trails Georgia's statewide median by a significant margin. Per capita income is $22,787. Poverty touches 1,265 residents, a substantial share of the population.

The economic base is typical of rural south Georgia: healthcare, public education, agriculture, and small-scale manufacturing. Dodge County Hospital is among the larger local employers. The school district employs a sizable portion of the white-collar workforce. For residents who need to reach larger job markets, Macon is roughly 65 miles north and serves as the closest metropolitan center with expanded employment options.

Housing

Total housing units number 2,456. Of those, 1,981 are occupied and 475 sit vacant — a vacancy rate near 19%, which is high by most measures and reflects the broader demographic pressure on rural Georgia towns. Owner-occupied units (981) and renter-occupied units (1,000) are nearly equal, an unusual split that speaks to a transient segment of the population and a relatively accessible ownership market.

The median home value is $112,900 — well below Georgia's statewide median, making Eastman one of the more affordable places to own property in the state. Median gross rent is $726 per month. For a buyer or renter priced out of Macon or the Atlanta metro, Eastman's housing market represents real affordability, though wages to match are not always available locally.

Schools

Eastman is served by Dodge County Schools, a single countywide district with all major facilities located in or near Eastman.

Combined enrollment across all campuses exceeds 2,800 students. The district operates a dedicated alternative campus for secondary students and a separate youth development facility, indicating structured support systems beyond the traditional school pipeline.

Getting Around

Of 2,027 workers, 1,527 drive alone to work — about 75%. Carpooling accounts for another 325 commuters. Public transit: zero. Walking accounts for 35 workers, and 55 work from home. Eastman is a car-required town; there is no bus system or commuter rail. Aggregate travel time across all commuters totals 47,565 minutes, which works out to a mean commute of roughly 23 minutes — modest, but driven by the fact that many jobs are local or nearby. Residents who commute to Macon or beyond face significantly longer drives.

Healthcare

Dodge County Hospital is located in Eastman and serves as the primary acute care facility for the county. For specialist care, trauma services, or major surgical needs, residents typically travel to Macon, where larger regional medical centers operate. A full search of local providers registered with the NPI Registry is available at the CMS NPI Registry for Eastman, GA.

Library

The Dodge County – Murrell Memorial Library serves Eastman and the surrounding county. Contact: (478) 374-4711. The library is part of the regional public library network and provides the primary free public information and literacy resource for county residents.

Natural Hazards

Dodge County has received 15 federal disaster declarations since 1994, a number that reflects both the county's geographic vulnerability and the increasing frequency of Gulf-originated storm systems tracking across south Georgia.

Major events on record: - Hurricane Helene (2024) — two declarations, both emergency and major disaster - Hurricane Debby (2024) — emergency declaration - Severe Winter Storm (2026) — emergency declaration - Hurricane Michael (2018) — emergency and major disaster declarations - Hurricane Irma (2017) — emergency and major disaster declarations - COVID-19 Pandemic (2020) — two declarations - Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (2005) — Eastman was among Georgia communities that sheltered evacuees - Tropical Storm Frances (2004) - Severe Storms and Flooding (2009 and 1998) - Tropical Storm Alberto (1994) — tornadoes, flooding, and torrential rain

The pattern is clear: Eastman and Dodge County sit in a corridor where Atlantic and Gulf storm systems regularly deliver damaging rainfall, wind, and flooding. Homeowners and renters should treat flood and wind risk as baseline planning factors, not rare events.

Government & Municipal Code

Eastman's municipal code is published and maintained through Municode and is publicly accessible at https://library.municode.com/ga/eastman. No local building code is on file in available records — residents undertaking construction should verify applicable state and county-level codes with Dodge County directly.

Weather

Current forecasts and conditions for Eastman are available through the National Weather Service at https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=32.1796&lon=-83.1522. Active weather alerts can be checked at https://alerts.weather.gov/search?point=32.1796,-83.1522. The nearest official observation station is EASTMAN 0.9 ENE, approximately 1.8 miles from the town center.

References

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