Is Moving to Georgia Right for You in 2024?

Georgia’s climate is primarily humid and subtropical with hot and humid summers, except at the highest elevations. Though Georgia has a moderate climate, occasionally it gets extreme. 

In the winter, the average temperature drops down to 39 °F while in the summer, it will touch 78 °F. In winters, there will be little snowfall around the state and in the summer, the temperature crosses often exceed 95 °F.

Georgia is vulnerable to hurricanes though direct hurricane strikes are very rare.

Georgia is one of the richest states in the US that if it had been a stand-alone country, it would be the 28th largest economy in the world. And that seems enough to portray the economic status of the state. The total gross state product is $602 million and it is one of the only 15 states with an AAA credit rating. 

It is considered as one of the best states in the USA to do business for its labor and business climate. The sectors prominent here are
Agriculture
Finance
Insurance
Technology
Manufacturing
Logistics
Film
Communications 

About 26 Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in Georgia, which include:
Home Depot
UPS
Coca-Cola
TSYS
Delta Air Lines Aflac
Southern Company
Anthem Inc.,

Did you know that more than 90,000 people move to Georgia every year? And that proves how robust the job market here is. It is very stable and growing, especially in the fields of leisure and hospitality, education and health and trade and transport. The federal minimum wage in the state of Georgia is $7.25 per hour and the current unemployment rate is very low – just 3.4%.

Some of the highest-paying jobs in the state are in the medical and computer science fields. If the medical, communication, or computer science industries are your fields of interest, plan your move to Georgia right today.

The fastest growing jobs in Georgia
Nurse practitioner
Physical therapist assistant
Physician assistant
Home health aid
Physical therapy aide
Physical therapist
Computer numerical controller machinist
Ophthalmic technician
Optician
Medical assistant

If owning a home is your dream, you can accomplish it by moving to Georgia. The median home value here is $195,500, which got increased by 7.5% in the last year. And this is expected to rise another 5.5% in the next year. In Atlanta, the state’s largest city, the median home value is nearly $290,000, though.

The median rents are quite cheaper in Georgia than the rest of the country. The average rent list price per square foot is $0.86 in Georgia, which is 10% below the US average and the median rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $1,445 per month.

Cheapest places to live in Georgia
Eastman
Morrow
Eatonton
Folkston
Auburn
Commerce
Palmetto
Toccoa
Warner Robins
Camilla

Expensive places to own a home in Georgia 
Milton
Sandy Springs
Johns Creek
Tybee Island
Brookhaven
Clarkesville
Greensboro
Atlanta
Roswell
Alpharetta

The overall cost of living in Georgia is lower than most other states in the US. However, utility bills in Georgia fall within the top 10 most expensive in the U.S. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the average monthly energy bill in Georgia is $126.38. That’s $14.71 above the national average of $111.67. The average utility bills in Georgia are higher than Tennessee ($123.30) but lower than South Carolina ($140.80) and Alabama ($142.55).
 
One of the best things about Georgia is that groceries cost slightly below the national average. However, in Atlanta, the cost of living is more expensive than most of its suburbs and other parts of the state.

In Georgia, a progressive tax system is practised and the income tax here ranges from 1% to 6%, with six tax brackets in total. The state collects 9% as income tax while the US average is 9.8%. The tax system here is the 25th highest in the US.

Apart from that, moving to Georgia, you will also realize that the state levies a sales tax of 4% but there is no tax levied on prescription drugs, certain medical devices, or food items for home consumption.

It’s a fact that health care in Georgia is poor in comparison with other states in the US. Georgia is ranked the 6th worst state for healthcare in the US, behind Arkansas and ahead of Oklahoma. It is also one of the lowest insured in the US. 

Georgia also does not hold a good track record in health outcomes when it comes to heart disease, diabetes, and death rate. It is also one of the most obese states in the US.

Top 10 hospitals in Georgia
Amory University Hospital, Atlanta
Emory St. Joseph Hospital, Atlanta
Piedmont Atlanta Hospital, Atlanta
Northside Hospital-Atlanta, Atlanta
Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Gainesville
WellStar Kennestone Hospital, Marietta
Northside Hospital-Forsyth, Cumming
Gwinnett Medical Center, Lawrenceville
University Hospital-Augusta, Augusta
Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center, Athens

The education system in Georgia is a mixed bag with many positives and equally negative points. The state is currently ranked #30 in education. Georgia has a high school graduation rate of 80.6% and there are 62 higher education intuitions in the state.

Some of the best schools in Georgia 
John Creek High School
Columbus High School
Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science & Technology
Northview High School
Walton High School
Alpharetta High School
Lambert High School

Some of the best colleges in Georgia are:
Emory University
Georgia Institute of Technology
University of Georgia
Mercer University
Georgia State University
Agnes Scott College

The discussion related to the pros and cons of moving to Georgia is incomplete without talking about the traffic here. Georgia’s traffic is every driver’s nightmare. Since Atlanta is the main economic hub where thousands of people commute every day, it’s natural for the highways to be choked during peak hours. 

Driving in Georgia, especially in Atlanta is considered the worst in the country. During peak hours, vehicles move at lesser than 40 miles per hour. But if you are living away from Atlanta suburbs or any big city and do not require to commute to metropolitan areas very often, you won’t feel the heat.

Leaving out Atlanta, the public transport system in Georgia is not worth mentioning. And to reach the beautiful and serene parts of the state, you need to have your own vehicle.

The Metropolitan Atlanta Transit Authority (MARTA) manages the public mass transit in Georgia through rail and bus transport. Though the state has impressive road networks, it has not invested much in connecting the cities with public transport. Hence, you need to buy a car once you have moved to Georgia.

One of the big concerns of moving to Georgia is the problem with bugs. There are a lot of bugs here, especially in Atlanta and its suburbs. From ants and gnats to mosquitoes and palmetto bugs, there are hordes of pesky and biting bugs that are active throughout most of the year. So when you going to partake in outdoor activities, bug spray is a must.

Georgia has one of the highest crime rates in the country. Despite claiming to be a peaceful state and a significant fall in the numbers in recent years, the crime rate here is still higher than in many other states in the US. 

The state records the violent crime rate of 3.26 per 1,000 is around 12% lower than the national rate, though its property crime rate of 25.74 per 1,000 is 17% above national levels. 

While Georgia’s statewide crime rates are a mixed bag, its 5 cities recorded remarkably low crime rates last year, which were considered to the safest cities in the country. 

The 10 safest cities in Georgia 
Braselton
Holly Springs
Johns Creek
Milton
Jefferson
Kennesaw
Georgetown
Senoia
Summerville
Tyrone

As per the FBI statistics, the 10 most dangerous cities in Georgia are:
East Point
College Park
Eastman
Americus
Hapeville
Albany
Brunswick
Griffin
Dublin
Warner Robbins

There can be pros and cons of moving to Georgia. But that doesn’t mean that Georgia is a state not fit enough to start a new life. Like every state, Georgia also has its share of merits as a comfortable living space. And some of the best neighbourhoods here promise the least crime rate, excellent connectivity, and a comfortable lifestyle.

Here is a list of some of the best neighborhoods in Georgia 
Atlantic Station, Atlanta
Population: 2180
Median home value: $200,690
Median rent: $1,541

Peachtree Heights East, Atlanta
Population: 1,070
Median home value: $532,142
Median rent: $621

Brookwood, Atlanta
Population: 1,984
Median home value: $349,879
Median rent: $1,432

Midtown
Population: 16, 659
Median home value: $355, 944
Median rent: $1,444

Morningside/Lenox Park
Population: 8,266
Median home value: $583, 629
Median rent: $1,625

Buckhead Forest
Population: 2, 427
Median home value: $311, 196
Median rent: $1,630

Georgia is not just majestic mountains, unlimited serene water bodies, and sun-splashed coastline. There’s more to keep you engaged. Moving to Georgia will be a magnificent opportunity to explore both its historic landmarks and hidden natural gems. 

Here are some of the attractions in Georgia
Savannah Historic District, Savannah
Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta
Atlanta Botanic Garden, Atlanta
Center for Civil and Human Rights, Atlanta
Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, Atlanta
Chattahoochee National Forest, Northern Georgia
Jekyll Island
Callaway Gardens
Okefenokee Swamp
Jimmy Carter National Historic Site, Southwest Georgia