Enigma, Georgia (circa 1900), c. 1900
Enigma’s story
150 years in pictures
Census counts: 338 in 1910, 1,058 in 2020. The archive holds 5 old photos and papers going back to 1900 and 2 maps from 1973 on.
- 1876Enigma is founded
EnigmaGA
A town of 1,106, founded in 1876.
Photo: Michael Rivera · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
1,106
2025 Census estimate · +5.8% since 2020
Typical home
$154K
+2.1% in a year
Household income
$32K
median
Median age
47.6
years
Jobs based here
11
A commuter town
Is Enigma a good place to live?
The best of Enigma’s subject grades is an A for cost of living; the weakest is a D− for walkability. 50% of residents live below the poverty line in Enigma, above both Georgia’s towns (15%) and U.S. towns (9.6%). On walkability, just 2 of Georgia’s 371 towns do worse. The median household income is $32K, and 50% of residents live below the poverty line. Enigma's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) trails 98% of U.S. towns. Enigma has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Enigma stand out
Where Enigma beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
A shrinking town
Enigma has shrunk 12% since 2010
1,278 counted in 2010 and 1,058 in 2020; an estimated 1,106 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Enigma grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Georgia), ordered by how far Enigma is from typical.
WalkabilityEPA walkability 3.3 of 20; 4.8% of households have no car; 0% of workers walk, bike or ride transitD−Open →Jobs & incomeD−Open →HealthIrwin County Hospital 14.4 miles awayD−Open →Cost of livingAOpen →SchoolsBeat 74% of Georgia districts on tests and graduationB+Open →Hazard riskhurricanes tops the listC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors0% conserved landC−Open →History3 notable people born hereC−Open →Civic life1.1 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsD−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 47.6; 6% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Enigma: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Enigma, and how to reach them.
PowerGeorgia Power16.3¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterEnigma water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Enigma’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Georgia you can register online until 29 days before Election Day, in person until 29 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 29 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereBerrien County Board of Elections and RegistrationBerrien County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP code3174931749 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Enigma.
HealthD−
Enigma is less healthy than 96% of U.S. towns
Enigma beats the Georgia average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 19. 22% of Enigma adults smoke cigarettes, above both the Georgia town median (15%) and the median of U.S. towns (14%). 20% of Enigma adults 18 to 64 have no health insurance.
5%healthier than U.S. townsD−Health Grade
| Enigma | Georgia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 15% | 14% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 14% | 14% |
| No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 14% | 8.1% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 36% | 29% | 25% |
32 measures vs. Georgia
0 better13 too close to call19 worse
| What stands out | Enigma | GA |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 26.4% | 14.5% |
| More adults with COPD | 10.9% | 6.5% |
| More smokers | 22% | 13.6% |
Irwin County Hospital
14.4 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
HousingCost of living grade A
A typical Enigma home is worth about $154K
The typical Enigma home is worth about $154,000, up 2.1% in a year, 53% below the Georgia typical home. 52% of households own their home in Enigma.
$154KZillow home value
| Enigma | Georgia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 52% | 58% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,000 a month | $1,154 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Enigma$154K
Georgia$329K
+2.1%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D−
Enigma stands out in Georgia and nationally, with fewer of its working residents who work locally
No town among the 264 in Georgia we compare has a lower share of working residents who work in town than Enigma. Since 2013, Enigma has lost 57 jobs, to 11 in 2023. Enigma’s average trip to work is 37 minutes.
0%work in town
| Enigma | Georgia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 37 minutes | 26 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 0.3% | 9.1% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Enigma0%
Tifton23%
Nashville9%
Valdosta6%
Douglas3%
15 mi
median commute distance
11
jobs based in Enigma
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
D−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 1% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
In Enigma, expect mild winters and hot summers
Enigma has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. The July high in Enigma is 92°F.
92°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter40–63°
Spring53–78°
Summer70–91°
Fall56–79°
Nov 19
typical first frost
Mar 11
typical last frost
+0.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
92°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Safety
Crime reported in Enigma
Enigma's reported crime rate is below Georgia's. Most reported incidents are property crimes, mainly thefts. Violent crime is rare: 2 reported in 2023.
| Enigma | Georgia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2023) | 12 per 1,000 residents | 20.6 | 13.1 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2023) | 1.9 per 1,000 residents | 2.8 | 1.8 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Enigma1.9
Georgia3.7
U.S.3.9
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Enigma12
Georgia19.1
U.S.19.5
2
violent crimes reported in 2023
13
property crimes reported in 2023
FBI crime data, 2023 · crimes reported to police
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C+
Moderate risk in Enigma, with hurricanes at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 59% of U.S. communities.
59risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
HurricanesInland floodingTornadoes
5
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
0.5%conserved
| Enigma | Georgia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.1 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 0.5% | 2.3% | 4.3% |
0.5%
conserved · 11 of 2,094 acres
0.3 mi
of trails · 0.1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Paradise Lakes | — | 8 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Enigma
20pages on Enigma
The big questions
SchoolsB+Beat 74% of GA districtsSafety1.9 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2023)HealthD−Better than GA on 0 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingA$154K typical home · up 2.1% in a yearWork & commuteD−$32K median household income · 11 jobs hereNatural hazardsC+FEMA risk higher than 59% of U.S. communities · hurricanes
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Enigma
About 1 of every 100 Enigma residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Georgia.
Small town
1,106 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Famous people from Enigma
3 notable people were born in Enigma.
About Enigma
Town in Georgia, United States
Enigma is a town in Berrien County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,278 at the 2010 census, and 1,058 in 2020. Enigma has frequently been noted on lists of unusual place names.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 3.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 305 ft
- ZIP code
- 31749
- Area code
- 229
Questions about Enigma
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Enigma, GA expensive?
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A.
What is Enigma, GA known for?
3 notable people were born here, including Mack Daughtry and Ken Cooper.