Passion hedge, 2010
Thunderbolt’s story
134 years in pictures
Census counts: 543 in 1910, 2,556 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 1846 and 2 maps from 1955 on.
- 1892Thunderbolt is settled
ThunderboltGA
A town of 2,534, settled in 1892.
Population
2,534
2025 Census estimate · −1% since 2020
Median home value
$335K
Census ACS
Household income
$75K
median
Median age
43.9
years
Jobs based here
1,143
Balanced
TownGrade
D
#196 of 258 in GA
Is Thunderbolt a good place to live?
Thunderbolt earns a D, 196th among Georgia's 258 graded towns. What it does well: it is more walkable than 83% of U.S. towns. Only 8 of Georgia’s 374 towns score lower on hazard risk. Thunderbolt’s trail density is 0.9 miles per square mile, against 0.3 in Georgia’s towns and 0.4 across U.S. towns. Only 18 of Georgia’s 371 towns score lower on cost of living.
What makes Thunderbolt stand out
Where Thunderbolt beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
By the sea
Thunderbolt lives by the ocean
Coastal flooding makes up 14% of the storm damage FEMA expects here.
14%of expected storm damage is coastal flooding
100thpercentile for coastal flood risk nationally
34paid flood-insurance claims since 1994
5storm & flood disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA · OpenStreetMap
How Thunderbolt grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Georgia), ordered by how far Thunderbolt is from typical.
Hazard riskhurricanes tops the listD−Open →Cost of livingTypical home $335K, 4.3 years of the Savannah metro’s $77K median household incomeDOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 14.3 of 20; 0.4% of households have no carA−Open →SchoolsCOpen →HealthMemorial Health University Medical Center 2.5 miles awayC+Open →SafetyC+Open →Jobs & incomeB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors2 miles of trails; 0% conserved landBOpen →HistoryC−Open →Civic life0.2 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsDOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 30 attractions →Mercer House and 25 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Thunderbolt. Close and well known come first.
4 mi MuseumMercer House
3 mi National MonumentFort Pulaski National Monument321K visitors a year
4 mi State parkWormsloe Historic Site
4 mi MuseumSorrel–Weed House
4 mi MuseumCongregation Mickve Israel
3 mi Park & preserveForsyth ParkSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Mercer House: Kyle Kesselring from Canal Winchester, OH, CC BY 2.0 · Fort Pulaski National Monument: Edibobb, CC BY 3.0 · Wormsloe Historic Site: Bubba73, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Sorrel–Weed House: Unknown, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Congregation Mickve Israel: Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Forsyth Park: Unknown, CC BY-SA 2.5
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Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Thunderbolt: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Thunderbolt, and how to reach them.
PowerGeorgia Power16.3¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterThunderbolt water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNearest public drop-offLift Station #42, 3 miOpenStreetMap
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 hereChatham County Voter RegistrationChatham County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP codes31404, 3141031404 96% · 31410 4%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 Thunderbolt.
Thunderbolt has commutes shorter than most of Georgia, but it carries more natural-hazard risk than most of Georgia (mostly hurricanes).
OutdoorsB
Conserved land covers 0.3% of Thunderbolt
Thunderbolt sits where Georgia’s towns sit at 2.3% and U.S. towns at 4.3% on this measure. 1.5 miles of trail in 2 parks and preserves.
#27for trails in GA
0.3%
conserved · 3 of 996 acres
1.5 mi
of trails · 0.9 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. W.E. Honey Park | — | 6 |
| 2. Thunderbolt Boat Ramp & Fishing Pier | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsC
Thunderbolt’s schools rank behind 73% of Georgia districts
Its public schools are run by the Savannah-Chatham County school district. Its one school is below. The largest public high school is Johnson High School, with 762 students.
27%of GA districts it outscoresCSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 762 | C− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within GA on state tests and graduation
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D−
Thunderbolt faces a very high natural-hazard risk, led by hurricanes
FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 96% of Georgia towns, with expected losses of about $1,673 per resident a year; that rating is what its D− for hazard risk is built on.
Thunderbolt’s FEMA risk score is 95 of 100. Since 1994, 34 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Thunderbolt.
95risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
HurricanesCoastal floodingInland flooding
34
paid flood claims since 1994
5
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Who lives here
Older than Georgia overall
People 65 and older are 25% of residents (15% statewide); children under 18 are 17% of residents (23% statewide). 41% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in Thunderbolt.
43.9median age · GA 37.6
| Thunderbolt | Georgia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 17% | 24% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 41% | 25% | 29% |
| Median age | 43.9 years | 36.5 years | 40.5 years |
ThunderboltGeorgiaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
16%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma8%
High school23%
Some college22%
Associate’s6%
Bachelor’s22%
Graduate19%
Women and men · all residents
54% women, 46% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±6.3 points. Across Georgia, 51.2% of residents are women. Among residents 18 to 24, 94% are men (GA 51%).
| Thunderbolt | GA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 6.6% | 12.1% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 10.2% | 11.1% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 5.5% | 9.5% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 13.8% | 13.8% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 15.8% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 7.2% | 12.8% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 16% | 12.3% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 15.6% | 9.1% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 9.4% | 5.8% | 7% |
| No diploma | 7.6% | 10.8% | 10.4% |
| High school | 23.2% | 26.6% | 26% |
| Some college | 22.1% | 19.2% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 6.3% | 8.4% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 21.7% | 21.1% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 19% | 13.9% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 2,500, single groups can be off by several points
Climate
In Thunderbolt, expect mild winters and hot summers
Thunderbolt has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. The July high in Thunderbolt is 92°F.
92°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter41–64°
Spring55–78°
Summer72–90°
Fall58–78°
Nov 30
typical first frost
Mar 2
typical last frost
+1.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
92°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B−
About two in five of Thunderbolt’s working residents commute to Savannah
The average commute for its 871 working residents takes 21 minutes, against 28.3 across Georgia. Jobs based here grew from 668 in 2013 to 1,143.
Most working residents leave Thunderbolt for work: only 3% work in town. Jobs based in Thunderbolt grew to 1,143 in 2023, 475 more than in 2013. 18% of Thunderbolt residents live below the poverty line.
3%work in town
| Thunderbolt | Georgia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 21 minutes | 26 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 18% | 15% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 3% | 9.2% | 8% |
| Median household income | $75,000 | $63,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Thunderbolt3%
Savannah44%
Pooler5%
Garden City3%
Atlanta2%
6 mi
median commute distance
1,143
jobs based in Thunderbolt
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
A−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 83% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HealthC+
On CDC estimates, Thunderbolt is less healthy than 62% of U.S. towns
Thunderbolt beats the Georgia average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 9.
38%healthier than U.S. townsC+Health Grade
| Thunderbolt | Georgia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 43% | 38% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 14% | 12% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 42% | 40% | 36% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 35% | 39% | 33% |
32 measures vs. Georgia
1 better22 too close to call9 worse
| What stands out | Thunderbolt | GA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 80.8% | 77.4% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 21.3% | 14.5% |
Memorial Health University Medical Center
2.5 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
55th
percentile among GA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SafetyC+
Crime per resident in Thunderbolt is higher than in 56% of U.S. towns
Within Georgia, it does better than 67% of towns.
44%of U.S. towns report more crimeC+Safety Grade
| Thunderbolt | Georgia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 19.7 per 1,000 residents | 14.5 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 2.4 per 1,000 residents | 2.2 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Thunderbolt2.4
Georgia3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Thunderbolt19.7
Georgia14.1
U.S.15.5
44th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
67th
percentile among GA towns
6
violent crimes reported in 2025
50
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
HousingCost of living grade D
A home in Thunderbolt sells for about $385K at the median
$385Kmedian sale price
2
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Thunderbolt
19pages on Thunderbolt
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
4 within 15 miles of the center of Thunderbolt
Savannah State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Savannah1.2 mi$5,750 in-state tuitionSavannah College of Art and DesignUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Savannah3.6 mi$41,630 tuitionSavannah Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Savannah3.9 mi$3,330 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Thunderbolt residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Georgia.
About Thunderbolt
Town in Georgia, United States
Thunderbolt is a town located in Chatham County, Georgia, United States, approximately five miles southeast of downtown Savannah. As of the 2020 census, the town had a total population of 2,556. It is part of the Savannah Metropolitan Statistical Area. Thunderbolt runs along the western shore of the Wilmington River (a tidal river that is part of the U.S. Intracoastal Waterway). The town is important to Georgia's shrimping industry, with scores of docks for shrimping trawlers. The town's picturesque atmosphere and seafood restaurants draw many local visitors.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.6 sq mi
- Elevation
- 20 ft
- Area code
- 912
Thunderbolt’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with Thunderbolt.
Whitemarsh IslandSavannahThunderbolt
How the neighbors grade
| Town | GA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderbolt | #196 | D | D | C+ | C | C+ |
| Whitemarsh Island | #96 | C+ | D | — | C | A |
| Savannah | #191 | D | C | — | C | C+ |
Whitemarsh Island and Savannah report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Thunderbolt with a neighbor →
Questions about Thunderbolt
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Thunderbolt, GA a good place to live?
Thunderbolt grades D overall, better than 12% of U.S. towns and #196 of 258 in Georgia. It grades C+ for health, C+ for safety and C for schools. Hazard risk is its weak spot, with a D−.
Is Thunderbolt, GA safe?
Within Georgia, it does better than 67% of towns.
Is Thunderbolt, GA expensive?
Yes. The typical home is worth about $335,000, 2% above the Georgia typical home. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D.