Augusta, Georgia at a Glance
The Garden City, the Cyber City and the City of Soul, Augusta is a place that truly has multitudes. This distinctly Southern city on the banks of the Savannah River was the childhood home of James Brown and Woodrow Wilson, is the current home of the Master’s Tournament and the U.S. Army’s Cyber Center of Excellence, and it could very well be your next home, too.
Although Augusta is a historic city, it very much has its eye on the future. Nestled on the border of Georgia and South Carolina, longstanding establishments in this manufacturing and education hub are leading to bigger and better opportunities for the next generation of Augustans. Titans in the paper industry like Clearwater are here, alongside manufacturing giants like E-Z-GO/Textron, Ferrara candies and Starbucks. And Augusta University provides a wealth of critical resources for the entire region, from educational training and jobs to healthcare and medical research.
But if Augusta is anything, it is a company town, and the biggest company here is the military. The Army’s CCoE and the NSA employ enough people to qualify as their own city. And what these agencies are delivering are some of the most pioneering advances in digital defense the world has ever seen. Or rather, not seen. It’s all top secret, you know.
While newcomers have been seemingly slow to arrive — the population of Augusta has held steady at around 200,000 for the last dozen years — there’s a lot to be said for stability in these complicated times. But what new residents will find might surprise them for a city this size. Sure, there are lots of nice small-town feels in Augusta, but there’s plenty of big-city flavor, too. Museums, performance venues and stellar restaurants complement Richmond County’s hilly, tree-lined streets, where pine trees tower and dogwoods and azaleas blossom underneath. The Augusta Canal area is a natural respite from workaday hassles, while MiLB GreenJackets games give you the big-crowd energy you might miss living in a less urban area.
And, when you just want to get away, Augusta is within a half-day’s drive to the beach, the mountains and several major cities in three states. Catch a Drive-By Truckers show at the 40 Watt Club in Athens or spend the weekend on Tybee Island off the coast of Savannah. Take the kids to Atlanta’s Center for Puppetry Arts and visit Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park. Or plan a camping adventure in the Blue Ridge Mountains. There’s so much within easy reach of your new home base.
If you are looking for a warm-weather city with a friendly, forward-looking stance, Augusta, Georgia, may be the perfect place for your family. Learn more about the city below in our moving guide, where we’ll discuss the cost of living, job market and our favorite things to do.
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Affordable Living: Affordable Living in Augusta, Georgia
Finding a Southeastern city that occupies the Goldilocks zone of affordability and affability can be a tall order, but Augusta just about hits the sweet spot. The housing market here is one of the most accessible in the region. Augusta’s median home value of $162,900 is just over half the national average but it’s dwarfed by Hotlanta’s average of $420,600 and easily topped by neighboring Columbia, South Carolina ($243,500), as well as Savannah ($225,200) and Columbus ($182,300).
Still, the home ownership rate in the city lags 15 points behind national rates, so it’s lucky for renters that apartment prices are also dramatically more affordable. The median gross rent in Augusta averaged just $1,087 between 2019 and 2023.
Unfortunately, even these prices remain out of reach for the more than 20% of Augusta’s population who live below the poverty line — twice the rate of U.S. residents, nationally. The culprit here may be low wages. With a median household income of just $53,134, Augusta residents have $25,000 less to spend each year, so even common household expenses, which tend to be more affordable in the Southeast, can still be out of reach.
Want to know how your wages might fare? See this chart from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to see what the average wages are in Augusta for your profession.
Career Opportunities in Augusta
Augusta may be known as the Garden City, but it’s the military that rules this economic scene. Both the US Army Cyber Center of Excellence (CCoE) at Fort Gordon and the NSA are located here, and they supply more than 35,000 jobs in the region. Thanks to their presence, a former city mayor has even suggested abandoning the city’s longstanding soubriquet for the more pragmatic sounding “Cyber City.” While the training of our front line of digital defense in electronic warfare certainly earns Augustans some bragging rights, “Cyber City” does have a kind of sinister, sci-fi tone, so we’d respectfully disagree about abandoning the current nickname — and its botanical optimism — for one befitting the next installment of the Terminator series.
Augusta also has the distinction of being the only city in the state training the next generation of dentists. Jury’s out on whether the CCoE or Dental College of Georgia inflicts more pain per capita, but our bet is on the DMDs. The DCG — part of Augusta University — was established in 1969, and it treats an astonishing 50,000 patients every year — that’s 1.6 million teeth! Augusta University and its network of healthcare providers and researchers (AU Health) have been a powerful force in the community for nearly 200 years, providing employment to thousands of individuals and healthcare to many times more. All good reasons to support the Jags!
Many cities are trying to revitalize their manufacturing industries, but Augusta’s never really waned. Vehicles, food, chemicals, paper goods, textiles and raw materials are just some of the essential products produced in the city. As one of the golfing epicenters of the planet, E-Z-Go/Textron is one of Augusta’s most recognizable brands. But some of the city’s lesser-known company names have an equally impressive foothold in the marketplace. Graphic Packaging, a paperboard manufacturer, was recently acquired by Clearwater Paper, but they’ll be keeping Augusta’s large milling operation in place. Then there’s Ferrara, which makes some of the nation’s most delicious cavity-causers, like Now & Laters, Jelly Bellys and Brach’s — another reason to be glad there is a dental school in town. And global caffeinator Starbucks also manufactures many of its products in Augusta, as well.
The unemployment rate in Augusta has remained moderately low over the past six months, standing at 4.2% in December 2024, comparable to the national average. The government, which is Augusta’s largest sector and employs 45,400 individuals in the greater Richmond County area, rose 1.1% while trade, transportation and utilities (42,500 employees) fell by 0.9%. Education and health services (40,900 employees) rose a dramatic 6%, and professional and business services (36,300 employees) gained 2%.
Outdoor Fun in Augusta
While most American cities have four seasons, Augusta has five: winter, spring, summer, fall and golf, which tees off with the opening of the Master’s but is encouraged year-round. Augusta National Golf Club has made this unassuming city a superstar on the global fairway, and the championship title is so coveted that players the world over are only too eager to don the jacket fashioned in a shade of astroturf green that even the 1960s wouldn’t abide. If you’re not one of the world’s top 50 golfers, Forest Hills is a wonderful course that’s open to the public, and the River Golf Club — on the South Carolina side of the Savannah — is a well-respected private club adored by its members.
Outside the beginning of April, Augusta isn’t really a pro-sports town, but you’ll be in good company if you have season tickets to Georgia games (UGA, UGA, UGA!), and the MiLB GreenJackets games at SRP Park in North Augusta (South Carolina) always fun to see. You’ll find amateur leagues for everything from softball to cornhole in Augusta. There’s even dodgeball league for residents who are peculiarly nostalgic for elementary school’s worst game ever.
The core of downtown Augusta is the Riverwalk, which joins cultural attractions with nature in the heart of the city. Take a lunchtime stroll around the gardens, or let kids burn off the post-dinner zoomies on the playground. Augusta’s Summer Concert Series highlights regional bands in the Riverwalk’s Jessye Norman Amphitheatre, and you can just as easily appreciate the music from a boat on the Savannah, whether that’s a swanky yacht or a solo kayak.
To experience Augusta’s beautiful landscape, set sail on the Augusta Canal National Heritage Area. Miles of hiking and biking trails await you in these astounding wetlands, where you’ll be serenaded by belted kingfishers, eastern phoebes and the easily startled wood ducks while herons and egrets fish for their breakfasts. We highly recommend taking a Petersberg boat tour, where a guide can point out all the sights and sounds you’ll experience, including historic structures, like the Confederate Powder Works.
Introducing children to outdoor adventuring can sometimes take some doing, but Phinizy Swamp Nature Park offers hikes just for kids as well as special family camping trips, where you provide the outdoor enthusiasm and they provide the games, guidance and even the s’mores. Pendleton King Park was ravaged by hurricane Helene, but when this beloved bird sanctuary reopens in full, this is the place to go to see azaleas, hydrangeas and those special winter beauties — camellias.
Experience Augusta’s Vibrant Culture and Food Scene
Augusta is a history-rich, Southern city and there are several key places to explore this town, starting with the Augusta History Museum. This institution tells Augusta’s story from the beginning — like, starting 12,000 years ago with the area’s first inhabitants — following that long, if turbulent, arc of history all the way to the present day. The transportation exhibit is always as big hit with the smaller set — it’s not often you get to see a yellow trolley car, a Model T and a steam locomotive indoors.
The Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History celebrates one of the city’s most important residents. A woman of many distinctions, Laney was a suffragist, a civil rights activist and the founder of both the first kindergarten for Black children in Augusta as well as the Lamar School of Nursing. You can also visit the boyhood homes of President Woodrow Wilson and the Godfather of Soul, James Brown. A historic walking tour of downtown will highlight some of the city’s greatest architectural treasures.
Augusta is also a city for the arts. The Colton Ballet Company, the Westobou Gallery, the Augusta Symphony and the Morris Museum of Art all contribute to the rich cultural fabric of this vibrant town. Each fall, residents look forward to the Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival, when hundreds of artists, writers, musicians and food vendors gather for a weekend of fun. Puppeteers, spoken word performances and even martial arts demos are all part of the regular lineup, so grab your party hats and get ready to dodge those fire-juggling street performers as you soak up all the sights.
One of the biggest surprises about living in Augusta will be the burgeoning food scene. Augusta may not have Atlanta’s mega-population, but it has an impressive slate of restaurants, just the same. You’ll find some of the best traditional Southern fare at the oddly named but delicious WifeSaver chain of restaurants. This purveyor of fine fried chicken, pork chops and — yes — scrummy livers and gizzards, now has five locations around town, so whenever you have a hankering for turnip greens, blackeye peas or banana pudding, you’re never far away from a victory meal.
The Frog Hollow Tavern shows off Augusta’s elegant side, with its locally sourced dishes and inventive pairings. The Southern fried quail is served with blue cornbread waffles, made from an Anson Mill’s grind, and the wild-caught shrimp and grits are paired with Georgia’s own Vidalias and house-smoked andouille. Don’t forget a side of Carolina Gold risotto, if you want to see what happens when the Southeast meets northern Italy. Trust us.
Ready to Relocate to Augusta? Let Mayflower® Get You There
Make your move to the Garden City easy — choose Mayflower as your relocation specialist. Finding the right professional moving company to help your family move can be a daunting process, but Mayflower makes it easy. For nearly a century, millions of Americans have made Mayflower the nation’s most-trusted mover — and your family can count on us to make your move seamless and stress-free.
Get a moving quote now for Augusta, GA.
If you’re moving long-distance to Augusta, Georgia, Mayflower’s nationwide network of professional movers can handle it all. Our long-distance movers are licensed for interstate moves, and our full-service moving packages and customizable moving packages can cover essential services like packing, unpacking, storage, debris removal and even shipping your car.
If you’re moving locally within the city of Augusta or state of Georgia, Mayflower’s interstate Augusta agents/movers can assist you with local moves independently under their businesses and brands.
Want to avoid the DIY route for your next move? Follow this guide on how to hire a good mover.
Looking for ways to make your move easier? Check out these resources to help you plan.
- Information on utilities, voter registration and more from the City of Augusta
- Mayflower’s 8-week moving checklist
- Our exclusive digital moving magazines
- Tips on settling in
And, if you’re still undecided about where to move and need a little extra inspo, browse through our state guides and city guides to see other places you could consider living.
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