Alston, Georgia
Seal of Georgia
Alston · Montgomery County, Georgia
Population 158 (est. 2026: ~100)
Source: Census ACS 2023 · ACS 2023 + -11.39% annual growth projection

Alston, Georgia

Montgomery County, Georgia · Population 178

Alston sits in the piney flatlands of Montgomery County in southeast Georgia, roughly midway between Vidalia and Mount Vernon along the county's rural interior. It is a small, quiet place — 178 people spread across a handful of streets — where the nearest grocery run likely means leaving town entirely. The median age of 60.3 years tells the real story: this is a community of long-established residents, not a place drawing young families. Montgomery County as a whole holds just 8,610 people, and Alston represents a small but stable corner of that rural fabric.

People & Demographics

The ACS 2022 estimate puts Alston's population at 223, with 96 occupied households and an average household size of 2.32. The community is predominantly white (196 residents), with 27 Black residents and a Hispanic or Latino population of 14. Only 32 residents are under the age of 18 — roughly 14% of the total — which reflects a community that is aging in place rather than growing. The median age of 60.3 years is significantly older than Georgia's statewide median, which runs closer to 37. Family households account for 64 of the 96 occupied units.

Economy & Employment

The labor force in Alston consists of 69 workers. Reported unemployment in the ACS data is zero, though that figure reflects a small sample and should be read carefully. Median household income sits at $41,250, and per capita income is $24,005 — both well below Georgia's statewide medians. Thirty-five residents fall below the federal poverty line, representing a meaningful share of a town this size. The local economy is embedded in Montgomery County's broader agricultural and small-business base, with Vidalia — home of the famous sweet onion industry — serving as the nearest commercial center of any scale.

Housing

Alston has 116 total housing units, of which 96 are occupied and 20 sit vacant — a vacancy rate of about 17%. Owner-occupied units dominate heavily: 85 of the 96 occupied units are owner-occupied, with only 11 renter-occupied households. Median home value is $135,300, which is modest even by rural Georgia standards and represents genuine affordability for buyers. Median rent data was not available in this dataset. The high ownership rate and low renter population suggest a stable, long-tenured residential base rather than a transient or rental-driven market.

Schools

Students in Alston are served by Montgomery County schools for the lower grades and may also access Toombs County/Vidalia City schools depending on district boundaries.

Montgomery County Schools: - Montgomery County High School — Grades 9–12, 276 students - Montgomery County Middle School — Grades 6–8, 222 students - Montgomery County Elementary School — Grades PreK–5, 453 students

Vidalia City Schools (nearby): - Vidalia Comprehensive High School — Grades 9–12, 732 students - J.R. Trippe Middle School — Grades 6–8, 531 students - Sally Dailey Meadows Elementary School — Grades 2–5, 647 students - J.D. Dickerson Primary School — Grades PreK–1, 456 students

Montgomery County's school system is small and locally oriented. Vidalia, approximately 10 miles east, offers a larger school system for families who reside in or transfer to that district.

Getting Around

All 69 workers in Alston drove alone to work; no carpooling, no public transit, and no walking commutes appear in the data. Five residents worked from home. The aggregate travel time across all workers was 1,675 minutes, which works out to roughly 24 minutes per worker on average — consistent with commuting to Vidalia, Mount Vernon, or other nearby county seats. A car is not optional here. There is no public transportation serving Alston.

Healthcare

No hospitals or clinical providers were identified within Alston itself. The nearest hospital services are in Vidalia (Meadows Regional Medical Center) or Mount Vernon. Residents requiring specialist care typically look toward Savannah or Macon. The CMS NPI Registry can be searched for any licensed providers currently operating in Alston at: NPI Registry – Alston, GA.

Library

The Montgomery County Library is located 0.9 miles from Alston's center and can be reached at (912) 583-2780. For a community without a bookstore or large retail presence, the county library serves as a meaningful civic anchor.

Natural Hazards

Montgomery County has been struck repeatedly by named storms and severe weather events. FEMA disaster declarations on record include:

Southeast Georgia sits directly in the path of Atlantic and Gulf storms that recurve inland. The back-to-back 2024 hurricane season — Debby in August followed by Helene in late September — underscores that this is not an abstract risk. Flood insurance and storm preparation are practical necessities in Montgomery County, not optional considerations.

Government & Municipal Code

Alston operates as an incorporated town under Georgia law. The municipal code is published through Municode and is publicly available at: https://library.municode.com/ga/alston-town-georgia

Alston does not have a local building code on file. Residents and contractors should confirm applicable state and county construction standards before beginning any building work.

Weather

Current forecasts for Alston are available through the National Weather Service: NWS Forecast – Alston, GA

Active weather alerts can be monitored at: NWS Alerts – Alston, GA

The nearest weather observation station is Ailey, located 0.9 miles away.

References

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