39842 ZIP Code — Dawson, GA

Terrell County, Georgia

ZIP code 39842 is located in Dawson, Georgia, within Terrell County. It covers approximately 269.16 square miles and serves a population of 7,737 residents. This is a standard ZIP code in the Eastern (ET) timezone, served by area code 229.

About ZIP code 39842

The housing stock consists of predominantly single-family detached homes. Most homes were built in the pre-1940, giving the area an established character. Median home value is $93,800. Owner-occupancy sits near the national average at 54%.

Median household income is $39,907. Poverty affects 33% of residents, above the national average. SNAP benefit usage at 29% of households reflects economic stress in the area. 37% of households receive Social Security income, suggesting a notable retiree or disability population.

The dominant occupation class is production, transportation, and material moving, with education and healthcare as the leading industry. The average commute of 24 minutes is near the national average.

College attainment at 13% is below the national average, consistent with a trades and production-oriented local economy.

Health indicators show elevated rates of diabetes (18%), smoking (26%) compared to national benchmarks. 20% of residents lack health insurance, above the national average.

Overall, ZIP code 39842 reflects a community defined by a trades-oriented workforce, economic challenges above the national average, a significant Social Security-dependent population, and elevated reliance on food assistance.

7,737

population

269.16

sq mi land

Standard

ZIP type

Eastern (ET)

timezone

39842 ZIP code map

Cities in ZIP code 39842

Below are the cities the US Postal Service accepts for ZIP code 39842. Using any city not on this list may result in mail delivery delays.

City	Status
Dawson	Preferred

Nearby ZIP codes

39826 Bronwood (6.7 mi) 39877 Parrott (9.1 mi) 39886 Shellman (10.5 mi) 31832 Weston (14.1 mi) 31787 Smithville (14.9 mi) 31780 Plains (15.8 mi) 39862 Leary (18.8 mi) 31763 Leesburg (18.8 mi) 31707 Albany (19.4 mi) 39840 Cuthbert (19.7 mi)

Demographics updated 05/2026

Population
Total population	7,737
Population density	29 / sq mi
State FIPS	13
County FIPS	273

Geography
Land area	269.16 sq mi
Water area	1.59 sq mi
Latitude	31.7925
Longitude	-84.4452
Timezone	Eastern (ET)
Area code	229

Total population by age

Gender

Race & ethnicity

Economics updated 05/2026

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	61.9%	61.9%	41.5%
$50k – $100k	25.7%	25.6%	30.3%
$100k – $200k	10.9%	11.0%	21.2%
Over $200k	1.6%	1.5%	7.1%

Demographics & statistics

7,737

Population

People per sq mi

39.6

Median age

$39,907

Median household income

$22,293

Per capita income

$93,800

Median home value

$711

Median monthly rent

53.9%

Home ownership

33.3%

Poverty rate

10.2%

Unemployment

2,297

Housing units

12.9%

Bachelor's or higher

Age distribution

Male Female

223

Under 5

218

327

5–9

320

248

10–14

243

273

15–19

267

288

20–24

282

405

25–34

395

495

35–44

484

432

45–54

421

270

55–59

263

238

60–64

232

432

65–74

422

212

75–84

207

85+

← Male

Female →

Age summary

Group	Count	%
Under 18	1,845	23.8%
18 and over	5,892	76.2%
65 and over	1,413	18.3%
Median age	39.6 years

Race & ethnicity

Black or African American 61.6%

White 31.1%

Hispanic or Latino 2.9%

Other race 2.6%

Asian 1.3%

Two or more races 0.5%

Group	Count	%
Black or African American	4,908	61.6%
White	2,479	31.1%
Hispanic or Latino	229	2.9%
Other race	204	2.6%
Asian	106	1.3%
Two or more races	40	0.5%

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	61.9%	61.9%	41.5%
$50k – $100k	25.7%	25.6%	30.3%
$100k – $200k	10.9%	11.0%	21.2%
Over $200k	1.6%	1.5%	7.1%

Under $10k 13.3%

$10k–$15k 5.9%

$15k–$25k 9.9%

$25k–$35k 12.1%

$35k–$50k 13.7%

$50k–$75k 15.3%

$75k–$100k 14.0%

$100k–$150k 11.8%

$150k–$200k 2.8%

$200k+ 1.2%

Range	% of households
Under $10k	13.3%
$10k–$15k	5.9%
$15k–$25k	9.9%
$25k–$35k	12.1%
$35k–$50k	13.7%
$50k–$75k	15.3%
$75k–$100k	14.0%
$100k–$150k	11.8%
$150k–$200k	2.8%
$200k+	1.2%
Median income	$39,907

Housing

Home values

Under $50k 13.4%

$50k–$100k 43.0%

$100k–$150k 10.8%

$150k–$200k 10.6%

$200k–$300k 12.0%

$300k–$500k 4.7%

$500k–$1M 5.6%

Housing overview

Metric	Value
Median home value	$93,800
Median rent / month	$711
Owner occupied	53.9%
Renter occupied	46.1%
Vacant	23.1%
Single-family detached	74.1%
Large apartment buildings	2.3%
Mobile homes	14.0%
Median rooms	5.6
Avg household size (owned)	2.34

Year built

Era	%
2020 or later	0.5%
2010–2019	5.6%
2000–2009	7.7%
1990–1999	16.1%
1980–1989	13.0%
1970–1979	14.4%
1960–1969	11.2%
1950–1959	11.2%
1940–1949	3.7%
1939 or earlier	16.5%

Bedrooms

Size	% of units
No bedroom (studio)	0.3%
1 bedroom	5.0%
2 bedrooms	22.2%
3 bedrooms	59.1%
4 bedrooms	11.7%
5+ bedrooms	1.7%

Vehicles per household

Vehicles	% of households
No vehicle	12.4%
1 vehicle	28.5%
2 vehicles	39.0%
3 or more	20.1%

Heating fuel

Fuel type	%
Utility gas	18.1%
Electricity	73.5%
Propane / LP gas	7.4%
Wood	0.9%

Households & families

Household type	Count	%
Married-couple family	1,065	39.0%
Cohabiting couple	185	6.8%
Male householder, no spouse	364	13.3%
Female householder, no spouse	1,119	40.9%
Households with children under 18	954	34.9%
Households with seniors (65+)	1,001	36.6%
Average household size	2.72

Marital status

Status	Male	Female
Never married	45.1%	40.4%
Married	40.3%	31.6%
Separated	1.5%	3.5%
Widowed	6.8%	14.7%
Divorced	6.3%	9.8%

Education

Less than 9th grade 6.8%

Some HS, no diploma 10.8%

HS graduate 38.6%

Some college, no degree 24.8%

Associate's degree 6.1%

Bachelor's degree 6.7%

Graduate / professional 6.2%

Metric	%
HS diploma or higher	82.4%
Bachelor's or higher	12.9%

School enrollment (ages 3–17)

Type	Count	%
Nursery / preschool	149	8.2%
Kindergarten	200	11.0%
Elementary school	843	46.5%
High school	473	26.1%
College / grad school	148	8.2%

Employment

Industry of employment

Education & healthcare 20.6%

Transportation & utilities 10.8%

Manufacturing 10.5%

Retail trade 10.3%

Public administration 10.0%

Professional & management 7.0%

Construction 6.7%

Other services 6.0%

Arts, food & hospitality 5.4%

Wholesale trade 4.6%

Finance & real estate 4.3%

Agriculture & mining 3.4%

Information 0.6%

Occupation

Category	%
Management, business & arts	21.5%
Service	21.7%
Sales & office	21.8%
Natural resources & construction	9.8%
Production & transportation	25.1%

Employment type

Type	%
Private sector	70.4%
Government	20.7%
Self-employed	8.8%
Unpaid family workers	0.0%

Commute

Method	%
Drive alone	72.2%
Carpool	14.6%
Public transit	0.0%
Walk	2.4%
Work from home	8.2%
Other means	2.6%
Avg commute (minutes)	24.4

Poverty

All people 33.3%

Under 18 years 50.4%

18 and over 27.7%

Married-couple families 11.8%

Female-led households 47.9%

Income support

Source	% of households
Social Security	36.6%
Retirement income	20.6%
Supplemental Security	12.9%
Cash public assistance	0.9%
Food stamps / SNAP	29.4%

Health indicators

Condition	%
Obesity	43.5%
High blood pressure	47.1%
High cholesterol	35.8%
Diabetes	18.4%
Heart disease	8.9%
Stroke	5.6%
Asthma	12.1%
Arthritis	31.4%
Kidney disease	4.6%
Pulmonary disease	10.6%
Cancer	6.2%

Behavior / access	%
Smoking	25.6%
Binge drinking	11.9%
No physical activity	37.0%
Less than 7 hrs sleep	41.8%
Depression	20.5%
Fair or poor health	27.1%
Poor mental health	18.1%
Poor physical health	16.0%
No health insurance	26.6%
Visited doctor (checkup)	80.3%
Visited dentist	46.5%
Cholesterol screening	89.4%
Teeth loss	27.8%

Veterans & disability

Veterans	Count	%
Civilian veterans	417	7.2%

Disability	%
Any disability	14.3%
Under 18	2.5%
18–64 years	12.9%
65 and over	34.5%

Health insurance coverage

Type	%
Private insurance	38.0%
Public insurance	50.6%
No insurance	19.9%
Uninsured under 19	3.0%

Language & origin

Language spoken at home (age 5+)

Language	Count	%
English only	7,296	94.3%
Spanish	117	1.6%
Other Indo-European	100	1.4%
Asian & Pacific Islander	5	0.1%
Other languages	0	0.0%

Place of birth & citizenship

Origin	Count	%
Native born (US)	7,534	97.4%
Born in same state	7,531	97.3%
Born in different state	6,566	84.9%
Foreign born	3	0.0%
Naturalized citizen	203	2.6%
Not a US citizen	84	41.4%

Ancestry

Ancestry	Count	%
Arab	858	11.1%
French	266	3.4%
Italian	227	2.9%

Ancestry	Count	%
Polish	20	0.3%
English	4	0.1%
Dutch	1	0%

Technology access

Metric	% of households
Computer access	35.3%
Internet access	84.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 estimates.

Frequently asked questions about ZIP code 39842

What city is ZIP code 39842 in?

ZIP code 39842 is primarily assigned to Dawson, Georgia.

What county is ZIP code 39842 in?

ZIP code 39842 falls within Terrell County, Georgia.

What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 39842?

33% of residents in ZIP code 39842 live below the poverty line, above the national average.

How educated is the population of ZIP code 39842?

13% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher — below the national average of ~33%, consistent with a trades-oriented local economy.

Does ZIP code 39842 have a large retiree population?

37% of households in ZIP code 39842 receive Social Security income, suggesting a significant retiree or disability population.

What is the typical home value in ZIP code 39842?

The median home value in ZIP code 39842 is $93,800.

What timezone is ZIP code 39842 in?

ZIP code 39842 observes the EST timezone.