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Key statistics

Georgia ranked fifth in highest net migration in 2022.

The median rent in Georgia is $1,995, which is 5% lower than the national median.

Homes of typical value in Georgia range from $114,913 to $394,644.

Fitzgerald ($114,913) is the cheapest Georgia city for typical home value and Dublin ($1,005) is the cheapest city for typical rent.

In 2022, Atlanta ranked fifth nationwide in commuter traffic delays, 82 hours per commuter.

Georgia’s cost of living is at the expensive end of the affordable states spectrum, at 67.5% of the median income. The Peach State’s affordability can attract Americans looking to get ahead financially while eating delicious cuisine, exploring diverse landscapes and enjoying the thriving music scene.

The research team at USA TODAY Homefront explored data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Zillow and local resources to investigate why people move in and out of Georgia. Our analysis of the cheapest and most expensive cities can help inform your relocation plans. If you plan on moving long-distance, compare services from the best moving companies in Georgia to find the best rates.

How many people are moving to Georgia?

Georgia was among the top five states with the highest net migration in 2022, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The Peach State saw a net gain of 74,520 residents due to 327,795 people moving in and 253,275 people leaving the state. The largest groups of people moving to Georgia came from the following five states:

Florida: 51,380 people

California: 25,960 people

Texas: 23,754 people

North Carolina: 23,175 people

Alabama: 21,031 people

Net migration from these five states totals 145,300 people. Three of these states — Florida, North Carolina and Texas — also rank among the nation’s top five with the highest net migration.

What are the cheapest cities to move to in Georgia?

Fitzgerald has the lowest typical home value of $114,913, per Zillow. In Dublin, one of the top 10 most affordable cities in Georgia, the typical home value is $160,060, and it has the cheapest median rent of $1,005.

Least and most expensive cities to buy a home

A typical home in Fitzgerald is less than a third of the price of a home of typical value in Jefferson ($394,644), per Zillow. The difference between typical home values in Jefferson and Statesboro ($267,384) is $127,260. Homes of typical value in Calhoun ($268,318) and Statesboro share the tightest margin ($934), while typical home values in Dublin and Bainbridge ($161,555) are only $1,495 apart.

The average home value in Georgia is up 3.8% year-over-year at $333,862, per Zillow. The median home list price is $369,933, while the median sale price is slightly lower at $330,000. Homes typically stay on the market for an average of 22 days before they go to pending. Slightly less than half (48.8%) of home sales are below list price, but over a quarter (26.7%) are over list price.

Least and most expensive cities to rent

The difference between the cheapest typical rent in Dublin ($1,005) and the most expensive typical rent in Cedartown ($1,999) is only $994. Minute margins exist among cities listed on the top 10 cheapest and most expensive, such as the $2 difference in typical rent between Rome ($1,328) and LaGrange ($1,330) or the $7 difference between Dalton ($1,238) and Columbus ($1,245).

Georgia’s median rent is $1,995, a $45 increase from 2023, according to Zillow. Rental trends in Georgia plateaued and declined throughout 2023, but rental prices rose this year and are just now reaching a plateau from June through August 2024. The median rent in Georgia remains just 5% under the national median.

What are some key statistics about living in Georgia?

Georgia statistically mirrors the 65.9% national average rate of homeownership, 12.7% poverty rate and 60.6% employment rates, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Among more than 10.7 million people who live in Georgia, the $72,837 median household income is just under $2,000 less than the national median ($74,755). Just over a third (34.7%) of Georgians have a bachelor’s degree, while 14% have a graduate or professional degree.

Three in 10 (30.6%) Georgia renters pay between $1,000 and $1,499 monthly. Those paying $500 to $999 comprise 26.4% of renters, compared to 24.1% who pay between $1,500 and $1,999 per month. Homes valued between $300,000 and $499,999 comprise 30.2% of all homes in Georgia, but only 2.8% of homes are valued at $1 million or higher.

What should you consider before moving to Georgia?

The Peach State bears the brunt of tropical storms during the hurricane season — from June through November. When Georgia residents aren’t preparing themselves and their homes for the storms ahead, they’re contending with another challenge: rush-hour traffic.

With the nation’s seventh-largest public road network per the American Society of Civil Engineers, Georgia hosts its fair share of traffic jams. As Georgia residents travel to and from work and other destinations, they drive on some of the best roads nationwide. Yet among the stagnant commutes thrives a bustling economy complete with numerous tourist attractions.

Weather

Although hurricane season extends from June through November, peak hurricane season lasts from mid-August through October in Georgia, according to the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center. These storms often originate in the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea and southern Atlantic Ocean.

As a result of hurricanes, Albany, Brunswick, Columbus, Savannah and other major coastal cities in Georgia experience storm surge floods, extreme heat and tornadoes. These areas have been known to have an occasional earthquake, according to the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency.

Traffic

Commuters waste an average of 82 hours annually in delays in Atlanta, putting it in fifth place in the nation for commuter delays and fourth for annual congestion costs per commuter ($1,953), according to the 2023 Texas AandM Transportation Institute report.

Job opportunities

Employment increased in Georgia by 37,000 jobs from June 2023 to June 2024, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Despite a slight increase in unemployment (3.2% in May 2024 versus 3.1% in April), jobs are up 1.5% year-over-year from May 2023, per the Georgia Department of Labor.

The local government (3,200 jobs), accommodation and food services (2,700 jobs), health care and social assistance (2,300 jobs), retail trade (1,800 jobs) and wholesale trade (700 jobs) represent the top five industries to gain the most jobs from April to May 2024.

Things to do

One visit to the many community farmers markets in Georgia — full of locally grown produce from nearby farms — and you’ll be hooked. Yet this Southern belle is known for the Georgia Aquarium and Old Car City USA. Oktoberfest in Helen may not carry the same weight as the same celebrations in Germany, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a town more suited to such festivities.

What’s next?

Spend time in the best cities in Georgia to get a snapshot of the lifestyles in this state. As you budget time and finances for your move, include a few rest days to manage moving stress.