Lilly, Georgia
Seal of Georgia
Lilly · Dooly County, Georgia
Population 173 (est. 2026: ~100)
Source: Census ACS 2023 · ACS 2023 + -13.29% annual growth projection

Lilly, Georgia

Dooly County, Georgia · Population 129

Lilly sits in the flat agricultural heart of Middle Georgia, about eight miles northwest of Vienna, the Dooly County seat. The surrounding landscape is classic South Georgia — long rows of peanuts, cotton, and corn stretching toward the horizon, interrupted by stands of pine. With fewer than 150 residents, Lilly functions less as a self-contained community and more as a tight residential cluster where neighbors know each other by name and most daily needs are met in Vienna or the larger city of Cordele, roughly 20 miles to the southeast. Two National Park sites — Andersonville National Historic Site and Jimmy Carter National Historical Park — sit within an hour's drive, placing Lilly in a corridor of genuine American historical significance.

People & Demographics

The 2022 ACS counted 144 residents in Lilly, organized into 57 households. The median age is 38.0. Racially, the town is roughly split: 66 residents identify as White and 47 as Black, with 12 Hispanic or Latino residents also counted. Family households make up 48 of the 57 total, and 38 children under 18 live in the community. The average household size is 2.53.

Dooly County as a whole holds 11,208 people, meaning Lilly accounts for just over 1 percent of county population — a true small settlement rather than a suburb or satellite city.

Economy & Employment

The economic picture in Lilly is difficult. Median household income stands at $24,688 — well below Georgia's statewide median, which consistently runs near $65,000. Per capita income is $16,968. Of the 144 residents counted, 47 fall below the federal poverty line, a poverty rate approaching one-third of the population.

Only 43 residents participate in the labor force, and 6 of those are unemployed. The local economy is almost entirely tied to Dooly County's agricultural and service base, with Vienna and Cordele providing most formal employment. Lilly itself has no significant commercial or industrial presence visible in the data.

Housing

Lilly has 81 total housing units, but 24 sit vacant — a vacancy rate just under 30 percent, which reflects both population decline and limited demand. Of the 57 occupied units, 36 are owner-occupied and 21 are renter-occupied.

The median home value is $83,300, making homeownership financially accessible in absolute terms, though constrained incomes mean mortgage qualification is a real barrier for many residents. Median rent is $584 per month. These figures make Lilly one of the more affordable places to put a roof over one's head in Georgia, though affordability is only meaningful alongside a stable income.

Schools

Lilly students attend Dooly County Schools, based in Vienna. The district runs three main campuses:

There are no schools physically located within Lilly. Students ride to Vienna, roughly eight miles away.

Getting Around

Of 37 workers counted, 24 drove alone to work. Zero used public transit, zero carpooled, and zero walked. Notably, 13 workers — more than a third — worked from home, a proportion that reflects both rural isolation and whatever remote-work arrangements residents have secured.

The aggregate commute time for all workers totals 625 minutes, which averages to roughly 17 minutes per commuting worker. A personal vehicle is not optional in Lilly; there is no transit infrastructure serving the area.

Healthcare

The nearest hospital is Flint River Community Hospital, located in the region. Specific ratings and emergency department status were not available in current data. For a complete list of licensed healthcare providers in Lilly, the CMS NPI Registry provides a searchable directory.

Residents with serious medical needs typically travel to Cordele or beyond. Planning for health emergencies means factoring in rural travel distances.

Library

The Dooly County Library serves Lilly residents and sits approximately 1.9 miles away — a quick drive into Vienna. Contact: (229) 268-4687. It is the primary public library resource for the entire county.

Parks & Recreation

Two National Park Service sites anchor the broader region:

Natural Hazards

Dooly County carries a long FEMA disaster declaration history. Since 1994, the county has received 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations, including:

This is not an abstract risk profile. Dooly County sits in a corridor that tropical systems regularly cross after landfall on the Gulf or Atlantic coast. Residents should maintain emergency preparedness for both hurricane remnants and severe winter weather, which has become a more recent declared threat.

Government & Municipal Code

Lilly operates as an incorporated city with its municipal code published through Municode: https://library.municode.com/ga/lilly-city-georgia

No local building code is in effect. Residents and contractors working in Lilly should verify applicable state and county standards before beginning construction or renovation.

Weather

Current forecasts and alerts for Lilly are available through the National Weather Service:

The nearest weather observation station is Vienna, approximately 1.7 miles away.

References

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