Ailey, Georgia
Seal of Georgia
Ailey · Montgomery County, Georgia
Population 530 (est. 2026: ~400)
Source: Census ACS 2023 · ACS 2023 + -7.74% annual growth projection

Ailey, Georgia

Montgomery County, Georgia · Population 519

Ailey sits in the pine flatwoods of southeast Georgia, roughly 70 miles west of Savannah and about 15 miles east of Vidalia along U.S. 280. It is the county seat of Montgomery County, one of Georgia's smaller rural counties with a total population of 8,610. The town is compact — a courthouse square, a scatter of residential streets, and the campus of Brewton-Parker College anchoring its academic identity in a way that punches well above what the population numbers would suggest. This is a place where neighbors are genuinely neighbors, where the median age of 26.2 years reflects a younger-than-average community, and where affordability is real rather than aspirational.

People & Demographics

Ailey's ACS 2022 population count of 583 breaks down to 396 white residents, 145 Black residents, 5 Asian residents, and 43 Hispanic or Latino residents. The town holds 143 households averaging 3.06 people — a household size meaningfully larger than most Georgia small towns, which points to multigenerational living and young families. There are 115 children under 18, roughly one in five residents. Ninety-six of the 143 households are family households.

The median age of 26.2 is notably low. Brewton-Parker College almost certainly pulls that number down, but it also means the streets have energy. Montgomery County as a whole skews older and rural; Ailey's college presence creates a demographic outlier within its own county.

Economy & Employment

The labor force stands at 242 people, with 29 unemployed — an unemployment rate of roughly 12 percent within the counted labor force. The median household income is $54,531, which compares favorably to Montgomery County's rural average but remains below Georgia's statewide median. Per capita income of $18,506 reflects both the college population and the wages typical of this part of the state. Fourteen residents fall below the federal poverty line in the survey data.

Brewton-Parker College is the most visible local employer. Beyond the college, residents work across the county in agriculture, retail, and public sector jobs, with many commuting to Vidalia or points along the U.S. 280 corridor for work.

Housing

Ailey has 178 total housing units. Of those, 143 are occupied and 35 are vacant — a vacancy rate of about 20 percent, which is elevated but not unusual for small rural Georgia towns where housing stock ages and population has gradually shifted. Of occupied units, 112 are owner-occupied and 31 are renter-occupied, giving an ownership rate of 78 percent among occupied homes.

The median home value of $109,100 is genuinely affordable by any Georgia standard. Median rent sits at $729 per month. For comparison, Georgia's statewide median home value runs more than twice Ailey's figure. Someone priced out of coastal Georgia or metro Atlanta will find real purchasing power here.

Schools

Elementary-age children in Ailey attend Montgomery County Elementary School, which serves grades pre-K through 5 with 453 students enrolled. Secondary students feed into the broader Montgomery County school system. For higher education, Brewton-Parker College operates directly in town, offering four-year degrees and representing one of the defining institutional presences in the community.

Getting Around

Of 213 total workers, 165 drive alone to work and 21 carpool. Twenty-two people walk to work — a number that reflects both the walkable scale of the town and the proximity of the college to employment. Zero workers use public transit, making a car a practical necessity for most errands outside town. The aggregate commute time across all workers is 4,795 minutes, averaging to roughly 22–23 minutes per worker — consistent with driving to Vidalia or other nearby centers.

Healthcare

No hospital operates within Ailey itself. Montgomery County residents typically travel to Vidalia, home to the Meadows Regional Medical Center, for hospital-level care. Local and regional providers serving Ailey can be searched through the CMS NPI Registry.

Library

The Montgomery County Library serves Ailey residents from 1.5 miles away. Phone: (912) 583-2780. It is the primary public library resource for the county.

Natural Hazards

Montgomery County's FEMA declaration history is substantial and recent. Hurricane Helene struck in September 2024, triggering both an emergency declaration (EM-3616, September 26) and a major disaster declaration (DR-4830, September 30). Hurricane Debby hit in August 2024 (EM-3607). Hurricane Idalia came through in September 2023 (DR-4738). Further back: Hurricane Michael in 2018, Hurricane Irma in 2017, severe storms and flooding in 2016, and Hurricane Frances in 2004. The county even processed a Hurricane Katrina evacuation declaration in 2005.

The pattern is clear: this part of Georgia sits in a corridor that receives tropical systems with regularity. Storms that make landfall near the Gulf Coast or Florida's Big Bend region consistently reach Montgomery County with damaging winds, flooding, and debris. Anyone moving to Ailey should have a hurricane preparedness plan and understand that "inland" does not mean "safe" in this region.

A severe winter storm declaration (EM-3642) was issued in January 2026, a reminder that ice events — while infrequent — do occur.

Government & Municipal Code

Ailey's municipal code is published through Municode and accessible at library.municode.com/ga/ailey-city-georgia. The city does not have a locally adopted building code on file with the publisher.

Weather

Current forecasts for Ailey are available through the National Weather Service. Active weather alerts can be checked at alerts.weather.gov. The nearest official weather observation station is the Ailey station, located approximately 1.0 mile from the town center.

References

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