Unadilla, Georgia
Seal of Georgia
Unadilla · Dooly County, Georgia
Population 3,057 (est. 2026: ~3,100)
Source: Census ACS 2023 · ACS 2023 + 0.23% annual growth projection

Unadilla, Georgia

Dooly County, Georgia · Population 3,118

Unadilla sits near the geographic center of Georgia, tucked along U.S. Highway 41 in Dooly County — one of the state's quieter agricultural counties in the coastal plain region. The town is small but functions as a genuine community anchor for the surrounding farmland, with a median age of 45.1 that reflects an older, settled population. Macon lies roughly 50 miles to the northeast and serves as the nearest metro for major medical, retail, and employment needs. Vienna, the Dooly County seat, is just a few miles away and shares county-level government services with Unadilla. This is a place where the pace is deliberate, housing is genuinely affordable, and the economy is modest — a rural Georgia town that is honest about what it is.

People & Demographics

Unadilla's population of 3,073 (ACS 2022) is split nearly evenly between Black and white residents — 1,503 Black and 1,102 white — making it one of the more demographically balanced small towns in the region. The Hispanic and Latino population stands at 302, a notable presence in a town this size. Dooly County overall holds 11,208 residents, meaning Unadilla accounts for more than a quarter of the county's total population.

The 626 households average 2.04 people, a figure that skews low relative to the statewide average, consistent with a population that skews older. Children under 18 number only 178, roughly 5.8% of the population — well below state norms. Family households account for 373 of the 626 total.

Economy & Employment

The median household income in Unadilla is $40,250 — significantly below the Georgia statewide median, which typically runs well above $60,000. Per capita income sits at $17,345. Of the 634 residents counted in the labor force, 80 are unemployed, an unemployment rate of approximately 12.6% — elevated compared to state and national benchmarks. Poverty touches 209 residents by census count.

Agriculture, light manufacturing, and public sector employment (schools, county government) form the backbone of what's available locally. For professional and white-collar employment, residents commute toward Warner Robins, Albany, or Macon.

Housing

Housing in Unadilla is among the most affordable in Georgia in absolute terms. The median home value is $66,400 — a fraction of the statewide median. Median rent runs $678 per month. Of 789 total housing units, 626 are occupied and 163 are vacant — a vacancy rate of approximately 20.7%, which signals some housing stock in need of reinvestment.

Owner-occupied units total 449 and renter-occupied total 177, putting the homeownership rate among occupied units at about 71.7%. That ownership share is a meaningful community strength. For buyers with limited capital, this market is genuinely accessible.

Schools

All public schools serve Dooly County as a unified district, with facilities located in and around Unadilla.

Total district enrollment across these campuses is approximately 1,110 students. The Prep Academy functions as a smaller, focused option for secondary students. Families considering private or higher education options typically look toward Cordele or Macon.

Getting Around

Unadilla is car-dependent. Of 547 workers, 363 drove alone and 61 carpooled. Zero workers reported using public transit. Forty workers walked to work — a meaningful number for a town this size, suggesting some employment is genuinely within walking distance of residential areas. Eighty-three residents worked from home, nearly 15% of the working population.

Aggregate travel time for all workers totals 8,325 minutes, yielding an average one-way commute of roughly 15.2 minutes — low by any standard, though many longer-distance commuters are absorbed in that average.

Healthcare

Flint River Community Hospital serves as the nearest hospital for Unadilla residents. For specialized care, the Macon corridor — including Atrium Health Navicent — is the practical destination.

Local provider listings can be searched through the CMS NPI Registry: Search Unadilla, GA providers

Library

The Elizabeth Harris Library serves Unadilla and the surrounding community. Contact: (478) 627-9303. The library functions as one of the town's core public institutions, providing access to digital resources and programming in a county where broadband access remains uneven.

Parks & Recreation

Two National Park Service sites sit within reasonable driving distance and are significant enough to warrant the trip:

For outdoor recreation, Flint River access points and Georgia's rural road network make cycling, fishing, and hunting common local pursuits.

Natural Hazards

Dooly County has a long federal disaster history. The county has received FEMA declarations for:

Fifteen federal disaster declarations since 1994 is a significant number. The pattern is clear: Dooly County sits in a corridor that receives direct and indirect impacts from Gulf Coast hurricane systems, and it also experiences severe convective storms. Residents should treat storm preparedness as routine, not exceptional.

Government & Municipal Code

Unadilla's municipal code is published through Municode and available at library.municode.com/ga/unadilla. No local building code is on file in the Municode system — contractors and builders should verify current requirements directly with city or county offices.

Weather

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

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

References

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