A Snapshot of Augusta, Georgia
Named for the mother of King George III, Augusta’s royal beauty is evident from the rolling banks of the Savannah River to the manicured greens of Augusta National. The towering pines and colorful understory are more than just a backdrop for special events, though — the wonders of this terrain are part of Augusta’s everyday charm.
This city of 200,000 has a vibrant downtown scene, where excellent restaurants, fun boutiques and a delightful riverwalk bring residents and visitors out in equal measure. Explore the city’s public art or pick a historic site to visit with the family on the weekend, like the childhood home of President Woodrow Wilson or the Godfather of Soul, James Brown. With Augusta’s mild weather, there are always plenty of things to do outdoors, from kayaking down the Savannah to hiking in the Augusta Canal National Heritage Area. And yes — a good round of golf is always in style in this home of the Masters tournament.
Augusta’s riverfront location on the border of Georgia and South Carolina also makes it a valuable territory economically. The city is less than a half-day’s drive to Atlanta, Savannah, Columbia and Asheville, which is a plus for residents looking for easy getaways, but it’s also critical to industries from Trade & Transportation to Manufacturing. Augusta University and its hospitals have built the critical infrastructure that has made it possible for the city to grow to be the state’s second largest. But the backbone of Augusta is the military. The U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence and the NSA Augusta have made the Garden City a hub for digital defense and education, an apt complement to the many aerospace bases across the Southeast.
And, even with all these amenities, Augusta is still an affordable city to live in. Housing prices are a fraction of those in Atlanta or Charleston, and they’re even lower than you’ll find in smaller nearby cities, like Columbia (SC), Macon and Columbus (GA). If you’re looking for a mid-size city in the Southeast that’s easy to call home, Augusta may be the city for you. Learn more about the city below in our moving guide, where we’ll discuss the pros and cons of living in Augusta, Georgia.
Climate and Weather in Augusta
The mild weather in Augusta, Georgia, is one of the things that draws people to the city and keeps them here. Augusta experiences four true seasons, with hot, steamy summers, chilly winters and glorious springs and falls. In the coldest months, low temperatures in the city average in the mid-30s F but highs usually hit the 60-degree mark. You can expect temperatures to exceed 80 degrees from May-September, and summertime highs will almost certainly be in the 90s f.
Augusta receives an average of 50 inches of annual rain, which falls fairly consistently throughout the year. It’s not unusual for the city to get inundated with precipitation every now and then, though. Over the last ten years, every month but October has accumulated more than five inches of rainfall, and some have seen more than 10, including January.
Snowfall is another matter. You’ll find that many winters in Augusta pass without a single flake forming, but every few years the city will get a true snowfall, and 2025 was one of them. The storm brought blizzard-like conditions to some areas of the coastal south, but Augusta residents were spared the worst and received just under three inches. A similar amount fell in 2013 and in 2011, but the last time the city experienced deep snow was in 2010, when 8.6 inches blanketed the city.
Cost of Living in Augusta
Augusta’s modest size and even more modest cost of living makes it an appealing option for those looking for affordability without sacrificing accessibility — the city is within 200 miles from Atlanta, Athens, Savannah, Columbia (SC), and Asheville (NC), and Montgomery and Birmingham (AL) are only 300 miles away. But unlike many nearby cities, big and small, Augusta’s real estate is still far below market value.
The median home value in Augusta is just $162,900 — 2.5 times less than prices in Atlanta, and also far below the state and national averages, which stood at $272,900 and $303,400, respectively, in 2023. At $1,087/month, rental rates also offer considerable savings to residents.
But even with relatively low real estate prices, home ownership levels are far below the national average, and the poverty rates are nearly double. This is likely because the median household income in Augusta is a mere $53,134 — $20,000 less than the average Georgians bring home a year.
Employment Opportunities and Education in Augusta
The job market in Augusta may be diversifying but there are really two industries that define this city’s economy: Education and healthcare and the military. Thanks to the U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence (CCoE) and the NSA Augusta, the government is the single largest employer in the Augusta-Richmond County region, supplying 45,400 jobs. Almost equal in size is education and health services, which employs 40,900 people, and trade, transportation and utilities, which supports 42,500 jobs. Between December of 2023 and 2024, almost all industries experienced some growth, but the city’s unemployment rate remained steadily above national levels, fluctuating from 4.5-5.3% over the past few months.
The CCoE makes its home in Fort Eisenhower (previously, Fort Gordon), a region about 8 miles southwest of Augusta. Between its training schools and its development programs, this DoD operation employs nearly 30,000 individuals — more than any other single outfit in town, and more than most individual industries do in the region. The NSA Augusta, which was established in the 90s, employs another 6,000 people, further expanding the military’s impact.
But long before there was even Camp Gordon there was Augusta University. This nearly 200-year-old institution of higher learning is best known for its medical research and public health programs, and enrollment numbers have steadily increased over the past decade, rising from 8,333 to 11,584 in 2024. The university and Augusta University Hospitals employ upwards of 12,000 people.
But there is, of course, a commercial side to the city’s economy. Manufacturing employs 24,600 residents in the Augusta area, and these workers play a critical role in delivering a diverse array of goods and materials to the nation. E-Z-Go, a division of Textron, was founded in Augusta in 1954, and the company has been producing the best-known brand of golf carts ever since.
The city is also a base for food manufacturers like Starbucks, which operates a soluble coffee and a roasting facility in town, and Ferrara, which makes candy for brands like Brach’s and Spree. Graphic Packaging has long made the city an important supplier of paper goods, and though it was acquired by Clearwater Paper last year, the Augusta plant is still in operation, employing around 700 individuals in the bi-state area. Other companies produce goods as varied as medicinal chemicals to draperies, ceramic fiber and plane engines.
One of the materials so important to many of these manufacturers is kaolin — a fine white clay that’s used in the production of paper, porcelain, and even paint and rubber. Augusta happens to be rich in kaolin, so the Mining industry also holds an outsize position in Augusta’s economic portrait.
Things You Can Only Experience in Augusta
Augusta’s downtown scene is livelier and more welcoming than most big cities, and the place to start exploring is the Augusta Riverwalk. This brick pathway along the Savannah River is great for a casual stroll, but it can also connect you to some of the top cultural destinations in the city, from the Morris Museum of Art to the Augusta Museum of History and Oglethorpe Park.
If you’re looking for more of an adventure, head to Aqueduct Park. This 19th-century granite beauty is a part of the Augusta Canal National Heritage Area, where hiking, biking, swimming and boating are all popular activities. Pick up the main towpath for a 5-mile jog, do some rock-climbing on the many rough-and-tumble outcroppings, or take the family rafting in the canal. One of the highlights is splashing at the bottom of Rae’s Creek Waterfall, which makes for a brisk dip, no matter how hot it may be outside.
South of the city, the Phinizy Swamp Nature Park is a refuge for both humans and wildlife. Alligators, bald eagles and ruby-throated hummingbirds all make their home in these protected wetlands, but you might just meet a river otter or beaver on your way to the fishing pond here.
Augusta is no stranger to human gatherings, either, and every year you’ll be treated to fun festivals, from the Augusta Air Show to the Foodees Food and Culture Festival to the Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival. For golfers, April is synonymous with the Masters, and if nature timed it right, the azaleas and dogwoods will be in full bloom for the opening day of this 90-year-long tradition. The Augusta National Golf Club has been the launch pad for rising stars and the crash pad for champions who have found themselves in the professional rough, but this storied terrain is an evergreen Eden for linksmen.
Downtown Augusta is also packed with excellent eats. With its updated Southern classics, Frog Hollow Tavern is a locavore’s haven and the perfect spot for a little splurge. The cowgirl ribeye gets the Georgian treatment with its house-made Woo sauce and side of creamed kale, and the shrimp & grits is tarted up with house-smoked andouille, Vidalia onions and tomatoes from Titan Farms, just up the road in South Carolina. Farmhaus Burger wears its love for local fare on its juicy, greasy sleeve, grilling up pure Southeastern angus and Sea Island red pea veggie patties for its smashingly good sandwiches — there’s even a pimento grilled cheese on this menu.
When you just want the perfect cup of coffee, forget the national chains and make your caffeine pit stop at Buona Caffe. We’re pretty sure this establishment pipes its aromatic brews out the chimney of their quaint cottage to unfairly tempt passersby, but we’re never sorry we stopped for a mug of their artisan roasts or for an affogato in the afternoon.
Tips for Moving to Augusta, Georgia
Research Moving Companies
If you’re ready to move to Augusta, make sure you choose the right professional moving company to help you relocate. United Van Lines can help you understand what’s covered in a moving quote, and you can count on us to make your move seamless. Join millions of families across the U.S. who have trusted their residential moves to United.
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Making a cross-country move to Augusta? United Van Lines can provide you with customized moving options to cover all your family’s needs. United’s professional, long-distance movers can move your family to Augusta from any city in the U.S., and our full-service moving packages make it easy. We can handle your packing, unpacking, shipping your car, removing packing debris from your residence and — of course — storing your belongings.
Moving locally to Augusta? United Van Lines’ interstate Augusta agents/movers can provide local moving services in the Augusta area and Georgia independently under their businesses and brands.
Have a Moving Checklist
No matter how you move to Augusta, you can still benefit from United Van Lines’ expertise. These packing tips will help you prepare effectively and efficiently for the big day. Need help staying organized? Use our moving checklist and this step-by-step guide to moving long-distance to keep your family on course during the weeks leading up to your move.
Enjoy the Process
While moving can seem like a daunting task, there are ways to make the experience less stressful and more enjoyable. Make a packing playlist to keep things upbeat as you fill boxes and consider taking a vacation from your move. (Yes — you’re allowed to take a vacation when you’re moving!)
Whatever advice you need for your relocation you’ll find on our moving blog and in House Key magazine. United knows all the ways to make your move a stress-free success.
When you want to learn more about your new home state, check out our Moving Guide to Georgia, where you’ll find an inside look at this popular Southeastern state. If you’re still not set on moving to Augusta, we have plenty of other city guides and state guides to help you find the right place for your family.
Get a quote today on moving to Augusta, Georgia.
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