The once-thriving county seat, Tifton, lost some of its vibrancy in the 1960s and ‘70s following the construction of Interstate 75. While the new highway improved area travel, it also made it easy for people to skip the city’s downtown. Officials were able to reverse the trend in the 1980s thanks to revitalization efforts, including turning the historic Myon Hotel into a combination City Hall and commercial space with room for apartments and retail space. Today, the city has more than 17,000 residents, many of whom work in the education and retail trade industries. “What I love is the friendly people,” says Melissa Brock, a Tifton resident and co-owner of Advantage Realty Partners. “Our community is willing to help each other when needed but will also respect your privacy.”
Tifton is a small town in southern Georgia with a population of about 17,000.
In the 1980s, Tifton's revitalization turned the historic Myon Hotel into City Hall.
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Ranch-style homes with brick exteriors
Tifton homes sell for a median price of around $250,000, below the national median. "There has been an influx of out-of-state buyers," Brock says. "People sold their homes for a lot of money and looked at South Georgia for the climate, and then they saw they could improve their standing in terms of property for far less money." Colonial Revival-influenced homes are common, as are ranch-style with brick exteriors. Properties often sit on lots of a quarter-acre or more. Homes stay on the market for an average of 65 days. The city recently received a community development block grant to renovate houses in its South Tifton neighborhood.
Colonial Revival-inspired apartments can be found around Tifton.
Ranch homes are the primary housing style in Tifton.
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Easy access to Interstate 75
Interstate 75 runs through the city's western section, connecting drivers to Atlanta around 180 miles north, while Athens is about 40 miles west. "There's some traffic around the interstate, but you'll never sit through a red light more than once," Brock says. "It's not congested, and there's not that breakneck, frenetic pace."
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has domestic and international flights to many destinations. Residents who want to save travel time can use Southwest Georgia Regional Airport, about 45 miles away, with daily flights to Hartsfield-Jackson. The Tift Lift Transit System provides public transportation to Tift County residents. Tift Regional Medical Center is an acute care facility.
Tift County Schools gets a B-plus grade
Students are served by Tift County Schools, which scores a B-plus grade from Niche. The district serves around 7,500 students across 11 schools. G.O. Bailey Elementary School has an individual B-plus grade. The city is home to Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, known locally as ABAC, which helps maintain amenities across town.
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College helps maintain Tifton's agricultural history.
G.O. Bailey Elementary School in Tifton, GA serves over 500 students.
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Rhythm & Ribs BBQ Festival has food and live music
The city holds many annual events, including the Rhythm & Ribs BBQ Festival, a March event that revolves around live music and a barbecue competition. On New Year’s Eve, the city drops not a ball, but a lit-up cartoon gnat named Matt, at the stroke of midnight.
The Georgia Museum of Agriculture was created around a 19th-century farm, while the 650-seat Tift Theatre has been open since 1937 and hosts Broadway shows, concerts and film screenings.
Tifton features a vast amount of well kept active farmland thanks to Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and is home to the Georgia Museum of Agriculture.
The Tift Theatre has been hosting Broadway shows in Tifton since the 1930s.
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Main Street has local shops and restaurants
After its rejuvenation, downtown Tifton’s Main Street was filled with boutique stores and food options, especially Southern restaurants and bakeries. Tifton Mall, an outdoor shopping center that houses brand-name retail stores and chain restaurants, is on the west end of the city off I-75.
Residents can go shopping at the Tifton Mall which features big-box retailers including TJ Maxx.
Local restaurants and boutiques fill the revitalized storefronts in Downtown Tifton.
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City parks focus on athletics
Many of Tifton’s parks are geared toward athletics, including Forest Lakes Golf Course, an 18-hole course maintained by ABAC students. The city also has multiple farms where residents can explore and purchase produce. Veterans Memorial Plaza and Amphitheater is used as a gathering space for events and concerts.
You can stroll through the Tifton Veterans Memorial Plaza or visit the museum.
Residents can ride their golf carts from their homes to the 18-hole course at Forest Lakes Golf Club maintained by the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.
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A moderate risk of tornadoes and hurricanes
Tifton’s violent crime and property crime rates have slightly dropped in recent years. The city’s violent crime rate is below the national average while its property crime rate is slightly above the national average.
Tifton experiences four seasons, though its summers are long and humid and its winters are short but cold. Tift County has a relatively high risk of lightning and a moderate risk of tornadoes and hurricanes.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
