Telfair County, Georgia
A shallow water table limits basements on 61% of Telfair County's mapped land, a higher share than 74% of US counties. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 1%.
None of the county is in drought on the October 13, 2026 Drought Monitor map. FEMA's flood data list no flood losses here since 2016. 52% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1979.
Data as of October 13, 2026 · sources
expansive clay: shrink-swell limits slab homes
high water table: limits basements
in drought, October 13, 2026
of homes built before 1980
Soil under Telfair County
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 0.8% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 60.7% |
| Septic fields very limited | 90.9% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 1.8% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 0.8% |
| Mapped soil | 284,200 acres |
How we count · survey areas GA610 (2025-08-28)
What the numbers mean here
On 61% of Telfair County's mapped land, soil stays saturated within about 6 feet of the surface for part of the year, which is basement depth.
Rain over the 12 months to August 2026: 40.87 in, 6.05 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 46.92 in.
USDA rates 91% of the land very limited for septic absorption fields.
Drought
0% of the county is in drought (D1 or worse) on the October 13, 2026 map. Part of the county was in drought in 36 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 100% of its area, in 35 weeks, most recently on the June 16, 2026 map.
| Category, October 13, 2026 | Share of county |
|---|---|
| D0 abnormally dry or worse | 6.2% |
| D1 moderate drought or worse | 0% |
| D2 severe or worse | 0% |
| D3 extreme or worse | 0% |
| D4 exceptional | 0% |
Flood losses since 2016
FEMA's flood data list no flood losses in Telfair County since 2016.
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 46.92 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 40.87 in (-6.05) |
| 2025 | 40.37 in (-6.55) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 1947: 67.25 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 1954: 25.35 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at EASTMAN 1 W (26 mi away) | 14.3 |
Homes
| Housing units | 4,705 |
| Median year built | 1979 |
| Built before 1980 | 52% |
| Built 2000 or later | 19% |
| Owner-occupied | 65% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $113,300 |
| Single-family detached | 62% |
What repairs cost
Published ranges from cost guides, not quotes. More sources, and where they disagree.
Nearby counties
| Place | Distance | Expansive clay | High water table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheeler County, GA | 18 mi | 0% | 54% |
| Ben Hill County, GA | 19 mi | 2% | 50% |
| Jeff Davis County, GA | 19 mi | 0% | 70% |
| Dodge County, GA | 22 mi | 1% | 50% |
| Coffee County, GA | 26 mi | 0% | 63% |
| Montgomery County, GA | 29 mi | 0% | 50% |
| Irwin County, GA | 30 mi | under 1% | 57% |
| Wilcox County, GA | 30 mi | 5% | 55% |
Sources: USDA SSURGO (August 28, 2025) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status