Rhine, Georgia
Seal of Georgia
Rhine · Dodge County, Georgia
Population 550 (est. 2026: ~1,000)
Source: Census ACS 2023 · ACS 2023 + 20.36% annual growth projection

Rhine, Georgia

Dodge County, Georgia · Population 295

Rhine sits in the heart of Dodge County in central Georgia, roughly 10 miles southwest of Eastman, the county seat. It's a small, tight-knit community in the coastal plain — flat land, pines, and the kind of quiet that comes from a place where most people have known each other for decades. With fewer than 300 residents, Rhine functions as a residential village rather than a commercial center. Eastman is where county residents go for groceries, medical care, and most services. Rhine's identity is tied to its households and its people more than any downtown.

People & Demographics

The ACS 2022 count places Rhine's population at 573, with 135 occupied households and an average household size of 4.24 — notably larger than typical Georgia averages, suggesting multigenerational living is common here. The median age is 41.4.

Racially, the community is predominantly Black, with 436 residents (76%) identifying as Black and 137 (24%) as white. Nineteen residents identify as Hispanic or Latino. There are 46 children under 18 across the town's households. Family households number 77 out of 135 total.

Dodge County overall holds about 19,925 residents, meaning Rhine accounts for a small but distinct slice of the county's smaller communities scattered outside Eastman.

Economy & Employment

The median household income in Rhine is $24,750 — well below Georgia's statewide median, which sits above $65,000. Per capita income comes in at $22,691. Of the 573 residents, 82 fall below the federal poverty line, representing a significant share of the population.

The labor force counts 403 residents, with just 6 unemployed — a low headline unemployment figure, though the income data suggests that available work is predominantly low-wage. There is no data here to indicate a major local employer within Rhine itself; residents work throughout Dodge County and the surrounding region.

Housing

Rhine has 193 total housing units, of which 135 are occupied and 58 sit vacant — a vacancy rate of roughly 30%, which is high and reflects broader rural Georgia trends of outmigration and aging housing stock.

Of occupied units, 100 are owner-occupied and 35 are renter-occupied, giving Rhine a strong ownership majority. The median home value is $69,000, making housing extremely affordable in absolute terms. Median gross rent is $592 per month. For buyers, Rhine's prices are a fraction of Georgia's statewide median home value, though financing in low-value rural markets can present its own challenges.

Schools

Rhine students attend Dodge County Schools, the countywide district headquartered in Eastman. The full lineup of schools serving Rhine-area children:

All schools are located in or near Eastman, requiring a bus ride for Rhine students.

Getting Around

Rhine is car-dependent without exception. Of 397 workers, 379 drive alone to work and 5 carpool. There is no public transit. Five residents walk to work, and 8 work from home. The aggregate commute time across all workers totals 12,875 minutes, averaging roughly 32 minutes per worker per trip — consistent with commuting to Eastman or neighboring counties. No public transit routes serve Rhine.

Healthcare

Dodge County Hospital is the primary facility serving Rhine and surrounding communities, located in Eastman approximately 10 miles away. No rating or emergency service data is currently available in public CMS records for this facility.

Local provider listings for Rhine-area clinicians can be searched through the CMS NPI Registry.

Library

The Dodge County – Murrell Memorial Library serves Rhine residents and is located 1.9 miles away. Phone: (478) 374-4711. It is part of the Ocmulgee Regional Library System and provides the primary public library access point for Rhine households.

Natural Hazards

Dodge County has one of the more active federal disaster declaration histories for a county its size. Since 1994, the county has received 15 separate FEMA declarations:

The pattern is clear: central Georgia's position means it sits in the path of weakening but still destructive Gulf and Atlantic storms. Wind damage, inland flooding, and tornadoes are the primary threats. Rhine households should plan accordingly for storm season and maintain awareness of flash flood risk given the flat terrain.

Government & Municipal Code

Rhine operates as an incorporated town under Georgia law. Its municipal code is published through Municode and accessible at library.municode.com/ga/rhine-town-georgia.

Rhine does not have a locally adopted building code on file with Municode. Property owners and contractors should verify current construction requirements directly with town or county officials before beginning work.

Weather

Current forecasts for Rhine are available through the National Weather Service: NWS Forecast for Rhine, GA (32.1796°N, 83.1522°W)

Active weather alerts: NWS Alerts

The nearest weather observation station is Eastman 0.9 ENE, approximately 1.8 miles from Rhine.

References

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