Quick Snapshot of Columbus, Georgia
A cultural hub on the banks of the Chattahoochee River, Columbus, Georgia is one of the South’s best-kept secrets. As the second-largest city in the state, Columbus defines the bi-state region of central Georgia and Alabama. It’s the home of Fort Moore, Columbus State University — one of the top-rated public schools in the South — and it’s the headquarters of Aflac, Synovus and Carmike Cinemas.
But the true heart of the city comes through in its citizenry, and Columbus has given rise to plenty of luminaries. Blues legend Ma Rainey was born and raised here, as was author Carson McCullers and artist Amy Sherald, who painted the official portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama. This is a city with copious amounts of hometown pride, which is clear in institutions like the Columbus Museum and public spaces like Woodruff Riverfront Park.
With its mild climate and lush landscape, Columbus is a haven for outdoor fun, whether you want to go white-water rafting, mountain biking or hiking. Flat Rock Park has long been one of the city’s favorite spots, with its broad expanses of granite and gneiss, its towering pines, and the cool, rushing waters of Flat Rock Creek. When you just want an escape from the workweek, the Columbus Botanical Garden is a delightful place to unwind. But strolling Columbus’ city streets can be a respite all its own, gazing up at refurbished industrial buildings from the turn of the last century or admiring the many historic homes that fill the neighborhoods here with charm and spirit.
If you are looking for a friendly, affordable city to call home, Columbus, Georgia should be on your list. Learn more about the city below in our moving guide, where we’ll discuss the pros and cons of living in Columbus (GA), from the cost of living to the job market, the neighborhoods and the cultural attractions.
Get a quote today on moving to Columbus, GA.
Living Affordably in Columbus
One of Columbus’ most pragmatic appeals is the relatively low cost of living. The price of real estate in Columbus, Georgia, makes it a great city for first-time home buyers and those just starting in their careers. Between 2019 and 2023, the median home value in the city was just $182,300 — roughly half the value of the average U.S. home — and rental rates averaged just $1,072/month. These prices offer substantial savings over spendy Atlanta, where median home values now top $420,000 and rents are more than $1,600/month.
Many other common household expenses are also more affordable in Columbus, so you may find that your wages go further in this city than they do in larger metro areas. According to MIT’s Living Wage Calculator, a family of three (two working adults and one child) needs $77,808 before taxes to afford basic expenses. This covers $13,283 for housing, $13,707 for transportation, $9,845 for taxes, $9,716 for food, $8,033 for miscellaneous expenses, $8,418 for medical expenses, $7,452 for childcare, $5,031 for civic expenses, and $2,323 for internet/mobile services. This would be affordable for the average U.S. household, which earns $78,538 per year, or the average Atlanta household, which brings in $81,938 annually. But the average Columbus household only earns $56,622 — more in line with Montgomery families’ earnings.
Work and Learn in Columbus
Columbus’ job market is anchored by several key institutions, both governmental and corporate, but the most important is Fort Moore. As the 6th-largest military base in the country, Fort Moore (formerly Fort Benning) is the single largest employer in the region, with 13,000 permanent, active-duty personnel, 20,000 trainees and 3,700 civilian workers. Because the fort has been around since 1918, the entire fabric of the Columbus community is interwoven with this military installation.
But the fort isn’t the only heavy hitter in Columbus. Many major U.S. companies are headquartered here, including Aflac, Carmike Cinemas, home/leisure supplier W.C. Bradley and banking giant Synovus, which was founded here in 1888. The impact of Columbus State University cannot be overstated, either, as it not only supports the education of the city’s workforce but also creates a critical cultural infrastructure for the bi-state region. Other regional colleges include the Georgia Military College, University of Georgia (Athens), Georgia Southwestern State University (Americus), Savannah College of Art & Design, Alabama State University (Montgomery), the University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa) and Auburn University.
While Columbus has a robust economy, the city still struggles to attract newcomers. That’s why city officials launched an initiative to help draw remote workers to the city. Anyone living 75+ miles outside the Columbus area who has a full-time, remote position earning at least $75,000 a year is eligible for a $5,000 cash incentive plus other amenities.
With normal unemployment figures and a diverse economic profile, Columbus’ workforce has a lot to recommend. The unemployment rate in Columbus stood at 4% in December 2024, just 0.2% above the national rate, and most of the business sectors held steady or saw gains over the past 12 months. The Government, which employs 23,700 individuals, grew by 2.6%. Trade, transportation and utilities, the second-largest nonfarm, civilian sector, dropped 1.5%, employing 19,200 residents. Education and health services grew 4% to support 18,200 jobs, and Professional and business services remained level with 16,000 employees.
Where to Live in Columbus
If you’re planning a move to Columbus, you’ll likely be pleased by the array of living options available to you, from dense, urban environments to sprawling suburbs. Here are a few key regions of the city to consider.
Midtown Columbus is the historic heart of the city, where distinctive neighborhoods from Dinglewood to Peacock Woods keep Columbus’ architectural treasures alive. Residences here might be lavish Italianate manors, Queen Anne mansions or Craftsman bungalows, but all of them will show a true pride of place. Columbus-born novelist and playwright Carson McCullers grew up in a handsome clapboard home in the Wildwood Circle-Hillcrest district, and her house has now been converted into a popular museum maintained by CSU. The lush, tree-lined streets in Midtown are both welcoming and walkable, and the parks and restaurants make this one of the most desirable places to live in the city.
Unlike many urban centers, downtown Columbus — usually called Uptown — has a great mix of condos, apartments and single-family homes, so you don’t necessarily have to choose between walking to work and planting a kitchen garden. You’ll be close to all the city’s best amenities, from the landmarks and restaurants on Broad to the Chattahoochee riverfront. You’ll never have to worry about event parking for festivals in Woodruff Park, because they’ll be close enough to walk to. That’s true for almost any site you’d like to visit, from the Springer Opera House to Columbus State University.
Those looking for a suburban experience should explore the many neighborhoods in north Columbus. You’ll find mega-mansions in tiny areas like Green Island Hills and more down-to-earth single families in districts like Brookstone and Autumn Ridge. With mostly newer homes on large lots, these neighborhoods are car-dependent but convenient. And, with the Columbus airport and three highways converging in north Columbus — 185, Rte. 80 and Rte. 27 — it’s a straightforward commute into the city center or farther-flung destinations like Montgomery or Atlanta.
What to Do and See in Columbus
Residents may argue about what the best things to do in Columbus are, but no one will disagree that this is a city that knows how to have fun. With charming shops, delicious food, and great attractions — indoors and out — you’ll never be bored in Columbus.
The heart of Columbus is the RiverWalk, which connects all the city’s best amenities, both urban and natural. Book a paddling adventure on the Chattahoochee River or hit the trails for a cycling trip with a view. Those looking for a real thrill will want to test their mountain biking skills on the Standing Boy Trails, which has easy-going rides for beginners and exciting routes that will keep even advanced riders on their toes. For a more laid-back day, take the family for a hike at Flat Rock Park and then picnic in the shade of the tall pines.
When May rolls around, you’ll know it’s time for RiverFest, Uptown Columbus’ annual music extravaganza. This two-day festival has the whole city dancing on the banks of the Chattahoochee in lovely Woodruff Park, where food and fun activities keep the energy bright. Best of all, tickets are only $10! This spring, the Columbus Jazz Society will host the inaugural Fountain City Jazz Festival, which will highlight rising stars in the community. April brings a full month of fun to the city with ARTSFEST, a celebration of Columbus’ visual arts, music and culture. More than 30 venues host events during the 30 days of the month, from the Columbus Artists’ Guild to the Springer Opera House, the Columbus Ballet and the National Civil War Naval Museum.
As the home of luminaries like Alma Thomas, Bo Bartlett and Amy Sherald, Columbus has a robust arts scene all year round. The Columbus Museum of Art (CMA) has a wonderful permanent collection, and this year’s exhibition lineup will showcase some of the most iconic works alongside loans from other notable collections. Wild Earth: JB Blunk and Toshiko Takaezu will bring together 200 works by the leading craft movement artists, and Louise Nevelson: Dawn to Dusk will include surprising works from her early years — like figurative paintings — as well as her more famous assemblages.
The COMU, or the Columbus Museum, celebrates all the cultural wonders of the city, from the arts to music, history and nature. Learn about blues legends like Ma Rainey in the exhibition Crossroads: Chattahoochee Valley Blues & Folk Music or just explore the permanent collection and gardens. Theater fans will love the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, which brings everything from classical dance to stand-up comedians to its stages. This season, the United States Navy Band, the State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine and Keb’ Mo’ and Shawn Colvin will all make appearances.
Columbus State University has several sites of interest, including the Coca-Cola Space Science Center. This kid-friendly venue has an amazing collection of NASA artifacts plus an observatory and several flight simulators. The smaller set will also enjoy the Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center, where they can picnic with tortoises, go on a guided bluebird hike and even see how honey is harvested from the resident bees.
When it’s time to eat, Columbus’s food scene punches way above its weight class. Epic certainly lives up to its name, delivering unforgettably elegant dishes with a Nordic flair, like the crab-topped arctic char and the birch-syrup glazed duck breast. 11th & Bay shows off the posh side of Southern essentials, from fresh Georgia shrimp to wild boar. Do not pass up the table biscuits with apple butter. But Columbus does casual equally well. Minnie’s Uptown Restaurant has the best fried chicken in the city — possibly the state — but you could make a meal out of the sides alone: turnip greens, black-eyed peas, cornbread, candied yams — the works. Dinglewood Pharmacy might be the city’s oldest dining establishment, and it’s also one of the country’s last remaining drugstore lunch counters. Since 1918, this soda fountain has been famous for its stellar service and its Dinglewood Dogs. The “scrambled” variety slathers a whole hot dog — bun and all — in chili then tops it off with oyster crackers and pickles.
Plan a visit to Columbus and scope out your new favorite spots before you move.
Moving to Columbus, Georgia Now? Let America’s #1 Mover® Get You There
Ready to make the move to Columbus, Georgia? Working with a professional moving company like United® Van Lines can make all the difference. Let us walk you through the moving process, from understanding what’s included in a moving quote to all the ways we can make your move seamless.
Get a moving quote from United Van Lines today.
Organize Your Move
The first step in any cross-country move is getting organized. Start by bookmarking our week-by-week moving checklist to stay on track throughout the moving process.
Choosing the Right Moving Method
When you’re considering a move to a new house or a new city, the options can be overwhelming. Deciding whether to hire a professional moving company or take the DIY approach is a critical first step. United Van Lines can help you weigh the pros and cons of each path, factoring in your time, budget and moving distance.
Finding the Best Movers for Your Needs
Securing the services of reliable, full-service movers can make the transition to your new home smooth, no matter where you’re moving from. United Van Lines can provide your family with customized moving options to cover all your family’s needs. Our professional, long-distance movers can help your family move to Columbus from any city in the U.S. See what our full-service moving packages provide.
United can handle your packing and unpacking, car-shipping and debris removal, and we can even store your belongings during and after your move.
If you’re moving locally, United Van Lines’ interstate Columbus agents/movers can provide local moving services in the Columbus/Muscogee County area and Georgia independently under their own businesses and brands.
Want to get a head start on your move? Check out our packing tips to get ready for the big day. Whatever guidance you may need for your relocation, you’ll find a wealth of resources on our moving blog and in our exclusive, digital guide, House Key magazine.
Get a sneak peek at your new home state in our Moving Guide to Georgia. While you’re there, check out other popular areas of the country in our city guides and state guides.
Get a no-obligation moving quote now from America’s #1 Mover®.
Other Moving Resources
- Loading...