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9 Reasons to Move to Georgia

Georgia has so much more to offer besides its famous peaches.

By Susanna Pilny on November 6, 2017

Tybee Island / Courtesy of Ryan McKee under a CC 2.0 license.

Ray Charles famously had Georgia on his mind. Do you, too? If not, perhaps you should. From friendly neighbors to green spaces galore, this gorgeous and diverse state is a great place to live.

Best Places to Live in Georgia

Need more convincing than a song lyric? Here are 9 reasons moving to Georgia might be the best decision you ever make. 

1. Affordability

The median price of a home in the US is $258,500. For Georgia? Not so much. The median home price here is a mere $148,100, or more than $110,000 cheaper. Rent, gasoline, and property tax are all cheaper than national averages as well.

The 6 Most Affordable Cities in Georgia

2. Political Variability

While the South is generally associated with the political right, the gap between the two parties has been narrowing in Georgia in recent years. For example, Hillary Clinton won around 30-40% of votes in the vast majority of Southern states, but in Georgia, the race was much closer – 45.3% to 50.4%.

Savannah, GA
Savannah / Courtesy of jpellgen under a CC 2.0 license.

3. Great Vibes

Georgia oozes Southern charm, but more importantly, it’s a genuinely friendly place. In fact, Savannah was recently listed by Condé Nast as one of the 10 friendliest cities in the country.

4. Wonderful Schools

Besides having great colleges and universities, like Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory, there are also plenty of great public and private schools. Of particular note are the districts in Buford and Decatur.

Tybee Island / Courtesy of Ryan McKee under a CC 2.0 license.

5. The Great Outdoors

Georgia is known for its warm weather – the average high for January is 52 degrees, while the average year-round temperature is 62.55 degrees. And there are plenty of places where you can enjoy it. Georgia has loads of beaches, and nearly 50 state parks, so it shouldn’t be any surprise that this natural playground also has some of the best fresh produce around.

The 8 Best Beaches in Georgia

6. Job Opportunities

Emory University and the military (notably Fort Benning) dominate the state in terms of largest employers, meaning jobs of all sorts of specialties abound. Of course, Georgia is also home to 18 Fortune 500 companies and has industries ranging from textiles to mining.

7. Sports Galore

Whether you prefer college sports or pro leagues, Georgia has you covered – the state is home to the Braves, Falcons, Gladiators, Hawks and Bulldogs. Moreover, Dawsonville is considered one of the birthplaces of NASCAR, and there are more than 20 racetracks across the state.

8. Easy Access to the Whole World

The international airport in Atlanta is the busiest airport in the world, meaning that living in Georgia puts the world on your doorstep. All you need to do is buy a ticket.

10 Things the Rest of the Country Should Thank Georgia For

9. History

If you love attractions related to the Civil War, the architecture of the 1800s, Coca-Cola, Jimmy Carter, or Gone With the Wind, Georgia is the state for you.

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