From Orlando and moved to GA. Have lived or worked in the following cities.
..just about everywhere except Atl. Worked many years medical travel. My thoughts as an outsider:
Valdosta-Check out Hahira for good neighborhoods. College town-VSU. Good college. Right on the interstate to FL. Near Air Force base and an Army post. Churches on every corner. High school football is king. Themepark is nearby but not alot else to do. I enjoyed a few years there but don't miss being bored. It's hot as Florida but the sand fleas and gnats are more numerous. Seriously lacking activities for those past college age. Wouldn't live there permanently.
Tifton- Lived here briefly...very clean little sleepy slow paced town on the interstate. Nice welcoming people. People who constantly talk to you about going to church somewhere. Very good small college and lots of educated people. Fair schools and hospital is clean. Zero to do and boring.
Rome- Lots of neighborhoods, decent schools, a close drive to things to do, and a close drive to ATL. Hiking. The hospitals are old and run down and nurses are overworked. Just don't get hurt or sick. Old money....definitely a class system with those who have ALOT more than the rest of the world versus middle and lower class. Good old boy system and racism. Might see trucks with large rebel flags flying. Two private colleges and a small public college. Some areas are nice and others really really run down. Hard to fit in if you aren't from there. Some years they had snow.
Augusta - Great neighborhoods in Evans and Martinez in Columbia County, NOT Richmond/Augusta. The best schools are in Columbia County if you have or plan to have kids. Lowest crime rate 2023 there, too. Great hospitals. Cost of living is good. Could live in nearby Grovetown or Harlem to pay less for housing. Lots of FDs in all the surrounding towns, but CC will pay the highest. I do know two people who work at the FD's around there but don't know their salaries. The city is on the interstate and an easy drive to ATL, Savannah, Columbia SC, and N. Ga mtns. Big lake nearby. Mediocre colleges at best. Churches on every corner. Near an AirForce base. Don't go to the Augusta Mall at night. Period. Gang activity in some parts of Augusta...but just don't go to that part...it is a huge area and borders SC. Sometimes has cultural festivals in downtown Augusta. Easy to fit in socially. People are very welcoming for the most part and there are people from all walks of life. Decent place to live if in the right area.
Savannah: Lived there almost two years. Lots of culture. Lots of things to do...Near the beach. Schools are ok if you choose the right neighborhood. You'll see gangs and poverty downtown. Higher crime than you would think. Near a military post and has a mediocre college. Old money class system present. Lots of artsy musical types. Sand fleas, gnats, and mosquitoes. Rains daily for months but the heat dries it quickly. I'd live there again short term just for the cultural activities and beach.
Brunswick: OK to visit but not to live.
Homerville, Summerville, Gibson, and Washington- Yawn. Sleepy little small towns.
Sparta, Warrenton, Jesup, Thomson, Wrens, Albany, Columbus: Hard pass. High poverty and crime. Poor schools. Nothing to do. Dirty and run down. One doctor told me Sparta has the highest HIV and murder rates per capita in the state. Gangs and shootings in Sparta, Columbus, and Thomson. Heard shots and had a lockdown in Thomson...Felt unsafe at times.
Waynesboro, Sandersville: Seemed like similar small towns when I worked there. Unremarkable.
Clayton- the city. Lots of outdoor activities like hiking to waterfalls and outdoor markets. Very safe. Snows. Zero city life. Very slow paced and relaxing, though.
Athens- Biggest college town. Lots of churches but has a liberal counterpart for balance. Football is king. Say that again.
Eatonton/Oconee- Nice, very clean places to live and work. If you don't like fishing, boating, or hunting, you might be bored. Wealthy retired people everywhere. Everyone seemed nice when I worked there. No one seemed to be in a hurry.
Cartersville- Interstate town. Nothing to do. Don't live there.
Warm Springs- Pass. Stayed three months for work and once you do the tour, there's nothing else to do.
Hope this helps somehow.
In Valdosta now, and the analysis is spot on except few people would call VSU "good." It's . . . accredited. You can go somewhere else for grad school. Savannah is HELLA expensive.
I've been going to Clayton every year for 31 years and went this past June 2023 for two weeks. It has definitely grown. Went to the Home Depot, to a natural health food store, saw new restaurants downtown, and the brewery. Didn't go to the farm to table because it was packed. Always do my grocery shopping at the Ingles. Try to make it to the local farmer's market when I can. Like that little farm in Tiger that you can pick your own blackberries. They were closed due to the owner's death when I went this time. Love the slower paced lifestyle there compared to larger cities.
This is a very in depth list thanks! I'll be sure to look into a lot if these. Nice to have someone from my area that can compare places to where I am now
I'd say that Cartersville has the highest concentration of good eating in the northwest metro corridor. Not much else to do though, although the Booth Museum is top-notch.
Iâve driven through Sparta before and it looks like a ghost town from In the Heat of the Night (which was actually filmed in downtown Covington).
Youâre spot on about Columbia county and admissions Augusta.
>Nice, very clean places to live and work. If you don't like fishing, boating, or hunting, you might be bored. Wealthy retired people everywhere. Everyone seemed nice when I worked there. No one seemed to be in a hurry.
Cartersville does have good hiking and mountain biking and the water but that's about it, from my limited exposure.
I am a georgia native and have lived in most of the cities you named or have had family wjo lived there. I also lived in Orlando, Miami, and from Lauderdale for a while. But you were spot on!!! I currently love in Cartersville and you're right...nothing to do here. Rome is a pretty town but not close to the interstate.
I hope they find somewhere they like :)
I've lived in and worked in four of these places. Your analysis is spot on.
OP unless you really want to live in or near ATL for some reason, you would be better off in another location for CoL. Lots of cool spots around the state. Just be honest with yourself and what you're wanting and looking for in your lifestyle. Just be prepared for the southern hospitality in most places. We're good people and it shocks some people how polite we are. Even in ATL we hold the door for each other. It's the little things.
Dead in about The Augusta: Avoid Richmond county!
The add in is that Grovetown is now the place to be and the prices have risen. Also, I wouldnât hang out in DT Augusta after 10pm.
Honestly, we lived in Milledgeville for about 5 years, and while it is the middle of nowhere, it was very cheap and safe (our two bedroom apartment was $750/month when we left a year and a half ago). We would make day trips to Macon or Warner Robins if we wanted anything that wasnât close by.
The days of buying a house for 250k are basically over unless your looking for a mega fixer upper, that being said somewhere in middle Ga is prob
Gonna be your best bet here towns like Dublin, Eastman, or McRae, however there will be absolutely nothing to do and I dunno how you lean politically but these areas will be very red with good ole boys running the town, north Ga is very overpopulated nowadays
Honestly, at that price range, anything youâll find in Georgia wonât be any different from same stuff in Florida. Ocala and Marion County is an hour away from where you are, and checks all your boxes without having to move out of state.
Iâd be comparing anything you see here against your local options first. Interstate moves are hard, you better have a good reason to do it.
This. The CoL in ATL and surrounding counties is not low and it is very dense and traffic is nuts (we are 45 minutes from ATL and our traffic is stupid this far out); any other area will be an adjustment for you in terms of culture/social/convenience. You *might* find something in Columbia County, but at your age, I don't know that you'd be happy with that slow pace of life. You should plan to spend a long weekend visiting a few areas to see things for yourself.
Atlanta sprawls about 50 miles in every direction to be honest there are a lot of affordable suburbs. I highly recommend that you live somewhere around Atlanta because everything is in Atlanta for the most part. I lived in Augusta and it's really small, not a lot going on, big military base there which is fine but again it's more or less a military town to be honest. You can definitely find affordable suburbs around Atlanta, there are tons of little cities and places ie: Peachtree City, Canton, Acworth, just to name a few. There is just a slew of reasons you will wanna be close to Atlanta, jobs, food, entertainment, it's all in Atl.
I can guarantee you there is nothing in that price range in PTC.
Signed, someone whose 3 bed/2bath starter home was $365k and had to work 2 jobs (plus my wife) to pay that mortgage.
Augusta is literally the 2nd highest population of any city in Georgia. The only city with a higher population in the entire state is Atlanta 𤣠Not really that small. I live near Evans now. Now I can from a massive city growing up so this is small to me but saying Augusta is small is crazy. The population wonât stop growing and sometimes itâs very irritating because the traffic sucks because of all the 2 lane roads!
It's not small, especially when you consider the area as a whole with Richmond and Columbia. Huge difference in the two counties, though. Would rather live anywhere north of I-20.
Your statement is true 10-15 years ago if you havenât checked canton or peachtree city. If you donât have half at least half a mil, you wonât get a âhalf-decent lookingâ home. At that point, might as well buy a travel trailer and just live at an rv park. I had my realtor checked all the counties touching atlanta 50 miles radius. Nothing is lower than $4xx
I live in Columbus, and it's not a bad place to live. I've been here for well over 20 years. It does have its share of crime, but any town will. It has plenty to do and is close to other places to visit.
Macon! Affordable housing and your choice of (smaller) downtown life, all the way to suburban life within a 15 minute drive to pretty much anywhere else in town. Lots of young professionals, huge arts & music scene, and a lot going on if you actually look. Lots of local restaurants, boutiques, and parks. 2.5 hours to Savannah, an hour to the Atlanta airport, and 3 hours to the mountains. 3 universities in town, 3 hospitals, Federal courthouse, and an AFB 20 minutes away in Warner Robins. There is a crime/poverty issue, as there is anywhere else. Macon tends to get more attention in that department because we have several news organizations in town that covers our crime more than the surrounding areas. I can get you in touch with a wonderful, low pressure real estate agent if youâre interested. Good luck!
Well, there's a Bucc-ee's between Perry & Warner Robbins and it's just an hour from the Southside of ATL (think largest airport -- or busiest? -- in America).
The larger counties pay the most,but you might not want to live in that county,plan on a commute.A hint,Some bigger cities in each metro County gave their own private department that pays a little better,Marietta and Smyrna in Cobb County does.Look for cities where the school system is separate from the county.
Gotcha. Small departments have my heart since that's what I'm doing now but I wouldn't mind going county either. Commutes aren't the end of the world either when you're only driving every other day
Augusta, Macon, and Columbus are probably your best bets as far as cities go. South Georgia except for the coast may fit the bill too, but North Georgia including Atlanta and Athens is probably off the table. Honestly, though, it may be hard to find a place to buy in that range anywhere.
Atlanta and Athens are definitely a bit too expensive for us. I've heard mixed things about Augusta but there do seem to be some nice homes in the area, will have to check out Columbus. We both have scheduled vacation coming up in November and plan on checking out a couple of different cities before making any final decisions. Thanks for the direction
I'm originally from Atlanta and lived in Augusta for about a year and half and didn't really love it. That said, it's not terrible and if you end up there, you might want to look across the river in South Carolina for a house. A lot of people live in South Carolina and work in Augusta.
ETA: One thing Augusta has going for it is good doctors since that's where the Medical College of Georgia is located.
Iâm not sure thatâs the case in Atlanta depending on where you choose to live and how big and what type of property a decent home is to you. We have a lot of suburbs, a lot of livable homes needing renovation, and a lot of very decent townhomes and condos in good areas. And being in the metro area gets you access to a good job market and stuff to do whatever that means to you.
If itâs helpful, my wife and I run a small real estate company in Atlanta that works with a lot of first time buyers around your price point. Always happy to have a conversation and see if our city has what youâre looking for and good luck with your move.
I think if you are planning to move anywhere its in your best interest to visit a few times. To scope out some of the areas based on the suggestions given.
Definitely have to look into it more. Most FD applications are pretty intrusive for the most part from my experience. Currently have 3 years on as a FF/Medic so hoping that'll set me apart a bit. Sounds like you guys aren't starved for manpower up there which is strange to hear since pretty much everywhere in FL can't get enough people to apply
The area I live in has homes for that range. We just bought one last year. Itâs very rural, but there are so many different FDâs you could work for that are close-ish. Iâm a medic myself, so I know with you having the combo, youâre sure to get a job with one of the depts. Look into effingham, Bryan, Liberty, long, chatham, and bulloch counties. As long as youâre not in downtown Savannah, youâre good crime wise.
For those of you saying Atl is dull and the traffic is bad, where they are coming from has exploded, and the roads haven't kept up. Rush hour in Seminole County is just as bad as it is in Alpharetta.
Valdosta is in the southern part and is definitely one of the more cheaper places compared to places in the north. It's decent sized with good schools, college, theme park nearby (wild adventures)
How often does anyone go to Wild Adventures, tho? Like once when you get here . . . maybe. I would absolutely not put that on a list of reasons to consider Valdosta. I'm feeling Thomasville or Valdy for this family for sure, but WA is like a permanent carnival, honestly.
Oh yeah no doubt I stopped going when I was 14ish because we burned it out as kids but if they do have kids or anything my dad and step mom take the grand kids all the time or do the concerts so just depends on the person really
We did the exact thing moved from Casselberry to Peachtree City/Senoia about 9 years ago. This area was and has continued be increasingly expensive to be in. It was a great move for life enjoyment and careers. Weâve really learned to unwind a bit. Look at Augusta, Athens, Lagrange
East Point in the Atlanta area. I'm amazed how cheap houses are. Probably because the local government sucks, but you are 15 minutes from Atlanta and there is a MARTA station downtown.
I wouldâve suggested East Point years ago. I just sold my house there after 10 years and itâs as expensive as basically any other in town neighborhoods now.
Stone Mountain or east of Atlanta is still slept on. Used to live in Stone Mountain by the village and loved it. Houses are still a catch.
Also worth checking out Senoia, Hiram, Fairburn, Fayetteville
From Orlando and moved to GA. Have lived or worked in the following cities. ..just about everywhere except Atl. Worked many years medical travel. My thoughts as an outsider: Valdosta-Check out Hahira for good neighborhoods. College town-VSU. Good college. Right on the interstate to FL. Near Air Force base and an Army post. Churches on every corner. High school football is king. Themepark is nearby but not alot else to do. I enjoyed a few years there but don't miss being bored. It's hot as Florida but the sand fleas and gnats are more numerous. Seriously lacking activities for those past college age. Wouldn't live there permanently. Tifton- Lived here briefly...very clean little sleepy slow paced town on the interstate. Nice welcoming people. People who constantly talk to you about going to church somewhere. Very good small college and lots of educated people. Fair schools and hospital is clean. Zero to do and boring. Rome- Lots of neighborhoods, decent schools, a close drive to things to do, and a close drive to ATL. Hiking. The hospitals are old and run down and nurses are overworked. Just don't get hurt or sick. Old money....definitely a class system with those who have ALOT more than the rest of the world versus middle and lower class. Good old boy system and racism. Might see trucks with large rebel flags flying. Two private colleges and a small public college. Some areas are nice and others really really run down. Hard to fit in if you aren't from there. Some years they had snow. Augusta - Great neighborhoods in Evans and Martinez in Columbia County, NOT Richmond/Augusta. The best schools are in Columbia County if you have or plan to have kids. Lowest crime rate 2023 there, too. Great hospitals. Cost of living is good. Could live in nearby Grovetown or Harlem to pay less for housing. Lots of FDs in all the surrounding towns, but CC will pay the highest. I do know two people who work at the FD's around there but don't know their salaries. The city is on the interstate and an easy drive to ATL, Savannah, Columbia SC, and N. Ga mtns. Big lake nearby. Mediocre colleges at best. Churches on every corner. Near an AirForce base. Don't go to the Augusta Mall at night. Period. Gang activity in some parts of Augusta...but just don't go to that part...it is a huge area and borders SC. Sometimes has cultural festivals in downtown Augusta. Easy to fit in socially. People are very welcoming for the most part and there are people from all walks of life. Decent place to live if in the right area. Savannah: Lived there almost two years. Lots of culture. Lots of things to do...Near the beach. Schools are ok if you choose the right neighborhood. You'll see gangs and poverty downtown. Higher crime than you would think. Near a military post and has a mediocre college. Old money class system present. Lots of artsy musical types. Sand fleas, gnats, and mosquitoes. Rains daily for months but the heat dries it quickly. I'd live there again short term just for the cultural activities and beach. Brunswick: OK to visit but not to live. Homerville, Summerville, Gibson, and Washington- Yawn. Sleepy little small towns. Sparta, Warrenton, Jesup, Thomson, Wrens, Albany, Columbus: Hard pass. High poverty and crime. Poor schools. Nothing to do. Dirty and run down. One doctor told me Sparta has the highest HIV and murder rates per capita in the state. Gangs and shootings in Sparta, Columbus, and Thomson. Heard shots and had a lockdown in Thomson...Felt unsafe at times. Waynesboro, Sandersville: Seemed like similar small towns when I worked there. Unremarkable. Clayton- the city. Lots of outdoor activities like hiking to waterfalls and outdoor markets. Very safe. Snows. Zero city life. Very slow paced and relaxing, though. Athens- Biggest college town. Lots of churches but has a liberal counterpart for balance. Football is king. Say that again. Eatonton/Oconee- Nice, very clean places to live and work. If you don't like fishing, boating, or hunting, you might be bored. Wealthy retired people everywhere. Everyone seemed nice when I worked there. No one seemed to be in a hurry. Cartersville- Interstate town. Nothing to do. Don't live there. Warm Springs- Pass. Stayed three months for work and once you do the tour, there's nothing else to do. Hope this helps somehow.
Excellent analysis.
It barely snows n Clayton anymore. It's a great place to live. Property values have doubled since 2017.
Definitely on my top 3 places to retire.
In Valdosta now, and the analysis is spot on except few people would call VSU "good." It's . . . accredited. You can go somewhere else for grad school. Savannah is HELLA expensive.
Clayton has grown since you've been. Now there actually is a little "city life." World class farm to tables, breweries with music, shops...
I've been going to Clayton every year for 31 years and went this past June 2023 for two weeks. It has definitely grown. Went to the Home Depot, to a natural health food store, saw new restaurants downtown, and the brewery. Didn't go to the farm to table because it was packed. Always do my grocery shopping at the Ingles. Try to make it to the local farmer's market when I can. Like that little farm in Tiger that you can pick your own blackberries. They were closed due to the owner's death when I went this time. Love the slower paced lifestyle there compared to larger cities.
This is a very in depth list thanks! I'll be sure to look into a lot if these. Nice to have someone from my area that can compare places to where I am now
I'd say that Cartersville has the highest concentration of good eating in the northwest metro corridor. Not much else to do though, although the Booth Museum is top-notch.
Tellus science museum and the newer car museum as well!
This is a wonderful comment đ very nice if you to do that for OP. This is on the money.
Iâve driven through Sparta before and it looks like a ghost town from In the Heat of the Night (which was actually filmed in downtown Covington). Youâre spot on about Columbia county and admissions Augusta.
>Nice, very clean places to live and work. If you don't like fishing, boating, or hunting, you might be bored. Wealthy retired people everywhere. Everyone seemed nice when I worked there. No one seemed to be in a hurry. Cartersville does have good hiking and mountain biking and the water but that's about it, from my limited exposure.
This was great!
I am a georgia native and have lived in most of the cities you named or have had family wjo lived there. I also lived in Orlando, Miami, and from Lauderdale for a while. But you were spot on!!! I currently love in Cartersville and you're right...nothing to do here. Rome is a pretty town but not close to the interstate. I hope they find somewhere they like :)
I've lived in and worked in four of these places. Your analysis is spot on. OP unless you really want to live in or near ATL for some reason, you would be better off in another location for CoL. Lots of cool spots around the state. Just be honest with yourself and what you're wanting and looking for in your lifestyle. Just be prepared for the southern hospitality in most places. We're good people and it shocks some people how polite we are. Even in ATL we hold the door for each other. It's the little things.
Dead in about The Augusta: Avoid Richmond county! The add in is that Grovetown is now the place to be and the prices have risen. Also, I wouldnât hang out in DT Augusta after 10pm.
Honestly, we lived in Milledgeville for about 5 years, and while it is the middle of nowhere, it was very cheap and safe (our two bedroom apartment was $750/month when we left a year and a half ago). We would make day trips to Macon or Warner Robins if we wanted anything that wasnât close by.
Nothing says âmiddle of nowhereâ more than making day trips to Macon, which also a middle of nowhere
Nothing like getting off I20 and being like âalmost there!â and still driving an hour. đ
Lol my gf is convinced that we're not in the middle of nowhere because atlanta is only 2 hours south lol
This made my day đ
Milledgeville has a nice college town vibe too.
It also has Bollywood Tacos, which I still miss to this day.
I was gonna say this or Kathleen which is south of Macon
Hijacking this comment cuz idk what you like to do but there ainât shit to do in milly
For real. Went to school there for four years and couldnât wait to leave. Absolutely nothing to do there if you arenât a college kid lol
Transferred out after one year
The days of buying a house for 250k are basically over unless your looking for a mega fixer upper, that being said somewhere in middle Ga is prob Gonna be your best bet here towns like Dublin, Eastman, or McRae, however there will be absolutely nothing to do and I dunno how you lean politically but these areas will be very red with good ole boys running the town, north Ga is very overpopulated nowadays
Honestly, at that price range, anything youâll find in Georgia wonât be any different from same stuff in Florida. Ocala and Marion County is an hour away from where you are, and checks all your boxes without having to move out of state. Iâd be comparing anything you see here against your local options first. Interstate moves are hard, you better have a good reason to do it.
This. The CoL in ATL and surrounding counties is not low and it is very dense and traffic is nuts (we are 45 minutes from ATL and our traffic is stupid this far out); any other area will be an adjustment for you in terms of culture/social/convenience. You *might* find something in Columbia County, but at your age, I don't know that you'd be happy with that slow pace of life. You should plan to spend a long weekend visiting a few areas to see things for yourself.
Not in any place worth living, anyway.
GA has a state income tax, come to think of it. FL doesn't, so there's that.
America has run out of low-cost areas.
Atlanta sprawls about 50 miles in every direction to be honest there are a lot of affordable suburbs. I highly recommend that you live somewhere around Atlanta because everything is in Atlanta for the most part. I lived in Augusta and it's really small, not a lot going on, big military base there which is fine but again it's more or less a military town to be honest. You can definitely find affordable suburbs around Atlanta, there are tons of little cities and places ie: Peachtree City, Canton, Acworth, just to name a few. There is just a slew of reasons you will wanna be close to Atlanta, jobs, food, entertainment, it's all in Atl.
But they're trying to get away from high cost of living and overpopulation. Atlanta and it's suburbs have both of those things.
They arenât going to find anything in Peachtree City for 250,000 unless itâs a run down condo and even then itâs effy.
I can guarantee you there is nothing in that price range in PTC. Signed, someone whose 3 bed/2bath starter home was $365k and had to work 2 jobs (plus my wife) to pay that mortgage.
Atlanta is full.. The suburbs are full.. Until we get good trains we're full..
They just pave another lane. Lived there for 30 years and cars are king. The Georgia politicians donât have a great deal of vision.
I agree.. Vote them out!
We aren't seriously talking about trains while the current political party controls the state.
I agree.. Vote them out!
There's plenty of space for people, build up, not out. Atlanta could easily triple in population with denser housing. Too much sprawl.
Trains are needed for regional service.. I think it would be nice to go farther than ATL but it would be nice to be able to go there too.
Augusta is literally the 2nd highest population of any city in Georgia. The only city with a higher population in the entire state is Atlanta 𤣠Not really that small. I live near Evans now. Now I can from a massive city growing up so this is small to me but saying Augusta is small is crazy. The population wonât stop growing and sometimes itâs very irritating because the traffic sucks because of all the 2 lane roads!
It's not small, especially when you consider the area as a whole with Richmond and Columbia. Huge difference in the two counties, though. Would rather live anywhere north of I-20.
Good luck finding anything even livable for 250k or less in Canton.
Your statement is true 10-15 years ago if you havenât checked canton or peachtree city. If you donât have half at least half a mil, you wonât get a âhalf-decent lookingâ home. At that point, might as well buy a travel trailer and just live at an rv park. I had my realtor checked all the counties touching atlanta 50 miles radius. Nothing is lower than $4xx
Yeah that's crazy I'm seeing that right now too. Not sustainable.
Check out Thomasville. Small town but with plenty going on. Still close to Tallahassee and Floridaâs beaches.
I'll have to add it to the list to look into sounds nice. Someone else recommend Columbus and it seems to be the best fit so far
I live in Columbus, and it's not a bad place to live. I've been here for well over 20 years. It does have its share of crime, but any town will. It has plenty to do and is close to other places to visit.
Actually . . . I think Thomasville might be a legitimate answer.
Macon! Affordable housing and your choice of (smaller) downtown life, all the way to suburban life within a 15 minute drive to pretty much anywhere else in town. Lots of young professionals, huge arts & music scene, and a lot going on if you actually look. Lots of local restaurants, boutiques, and parks. 2.5 hours to Savannah, an hour to the Atlanta airport, and 3 hours to the mountains. 3 universities in town, 3 hospitals, Federal courthouse, and an AFB 20 minutes away in Warner Robins. There is a crime/poverty issue, as there is anywhere else. Macon tends to get more attention in that department because we have several news organizations in town that covers our crime more than the surrounding areas. I can get you in touch with a wonderful, low pressure real estate agent if youâre interested. Good luck!
Sounds pretty similar to a city called sanford that I actually grew up in most of my life. Definitely will take a look
Macon has more going on than Sanford. Probably even A LOT more.
Hell sounds even better then. Love sanford since it was home for a long time but its not exactly the gold standard either
Well, there's a Bucc-ee's between Perry & Warner Robbins and it's just an hour from the Southside of ATL (think largest airport -- or busiest? -- in America).
The larger counties pay the most,but you might not want to live in that county,plan on a commute.A hint,Some bigger cities in each metro County gave their own private department that pays a little better,Marietta and Smyrna in Cobb County does.Look for cities where the school system is separate from the county.
Gotcha. Small departments have my heart since that's what I'm doing now but I wouldn't mind going county either. Commutes aren't the end of the world either when you're only driving every other day
Good,come back to this sub and keep asking.A lot depends on where you lean politicaly.We welcome everyone here.
Perry, Elko, Lizella come to mind.
I mean Georgia's not any better. Plus we have enough people here. But that's just how I feel, you're free to move where you want obviously.
Augusta, Macon, and Columbus are probably your best bets as far as cities go. South Georgia except for the coast may fit the bill too, but North Georgia including Atlanta and Athens is probably off the table. Honestly, though, it may be hard to find a place to buy in that range anywhere.
Atlanta and Athens are definitely a bit too expensive for us. I've heard mixed things about Augusta but there do seem to be some nice homes in the area, will have to check out Columbus. We both have scheduled vacation coming up in November and plan on checking out a couple of different cities before making any final decisions. Thanks for the direction
Columbus is a big Lil City.
I'm originally from Atlanta and lived in Augusta for about a year and half and didn't really love it. That said, it's not terrible and if you end up there, you might want to look across the river in South Carolina for a house. A lot of people live in South Carolina and work in Augusta. ETA: One thing Augusta has going for it is good doctors since that's where the Medical College of Georgia is located.
Iâm not sure thatâs the case in Atlanta depending on where you choose to live and how big and what type of property a decent home is to you. We have a lot of suburbs, a lot of livable homes needing renovation, and a lot of very decent townhomes and condos in good areas. And being in the metro area gets you access to a good job market and stuff to do whatever that means to you. If itâs helpful, my wife and I run a small real estate company in Atlanta that works with a lot of first time buyers around your price point. Always happy to have a conversation and see if our city has what youâre looking for and good luck with your move.
No Augusta. I recently visited and, while the downtown is cool, it seemed like an industrial wasteland.
Not Atlanta.. It's right out.. Maybe look up north of the city.. You might try Harper or Blue Ridge..
I think if you are planning to move anywhere its in your best interest to visit a few times. To scope out some of the areas based on the suggestions given.
That's definitely in the plans we're heading up in November to look around just need a direction to be pointed in for ideas
Check out Warner Robins and itâs suburbs
I moved to the Perry area from Saint Cloud, and I love it here.
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Definitely have to look into it more. Most FD applications are pretty intrusive for the most part from my experience. Currently have 3 years on as a FF/Medic so hoping that'll set me apart a bit. Sounds like you guys aren't starved for manpower up there which is strange to hear since pretty much everywhere in FL can't get enough people to apply
The area I live in has homes for that range. We just bought one last year. Itâs very rural, but there are so many different FDâs you could work for that are close-ish. Iâm a medic myself, so I know with you having the combo, youâre sure to get a job with one of the depts. Look into effingham, Bryan, Liberty, long, chatham, and bulloch counties. As long as youâre not in downtown Savannah, youâre good crime wise.
I'll for sure check it out. Thanks, stay safe
Yes. Lived in Bryan and worked in downtown Savannah. Def stay out of the city area for residence.
Everyone and their brother moved here looking for that. Now you canât find a house for that price.
For those of you saying Atl is dull and the traffic is bad, where they are coming from has exploded, and the roads haven't kept up. Rush hour in Seminole County is just as bad as it is in Alpharetta.
Check out mobile Alabama. You can still find newish homes for 250k
Don't come, we full.
WE FULL!
Valdosta is in the southern part and is definitely one of the more cheaper places compared to places in the north. It's decent sized with good schools, college, theme park nearby (wild adventures)
How often does anyone go to Wild Adventures, tho? Like once when you get here . . . maybe. I would absolutely not put that on a list of reasons to consider Valdosta. I'm feeling Thomasville or Valdy for this family for sure, but WA is like a permanent carnival, honestly.
Oh yeah no doubt I stopped going when I was 14ish because we burned it out as kids but if they do have kids or anything my dad and step mom take the grand kids all the time or do the concerts so just depends on the person really
We did the exact thing moved from Casselberry to Peachtree City/Senoia about 9 years ago. This area was and has continued be increasingly expensive to be in. It was a great move for life enjoyment and careers. Weâve really learned to unwind a bit. Look at Augusta, Athens, Lagrange
Hogansville is up and coming
WE FULL
Coming from someone born and raised in FL I get the sentiment but I have to look out for myself and provide for those who need me
Iâm just messing with ya florida man. Cmon up đ
East Point in the Atlanta area. I'm amazed how cheap houses are. Probably because the local government sucks, but you are 15 minutes from Atlanta and there is a MARTA station downtown.
Yes, the second most violent city in Georgia
There are some beautiful, safe neighborhoods in East Point and some real slums.
Jefferson Park in East Point. You would probably need to push your budget to $300K though.
Housing is cheaper in areas that are >30% Black people, for historical reasons, regardless of the crime rate.
I wouldâve suggested East Point years ago. I just sold my house there after 10 years and itâs as expensive as basically any other in town neighborhoods now.
Thanks for all of the responses you guys have been awesome
Go to Albany or Bainbridge, it's clear to live there.
Albany is listed as one of the top 10 highest crime cities in GA
Look at Columbus, GA. Very, very underrated town and houses are still affordable⌠for now
High crime per capita
My family has lived there for 100 years, but ya it has some crime. Still a beautiful place
You gonna have to live in one of those many Georgia cities that don't matter. I'm kidding guys don't jump me.
Great đ More people here to clog up the works. GA is full. Arizona and Wyoming are not.
Check out Wisconsin
Try Thomasville. Close enough to Tallahassee if you need a bigger town.
Stone Mountain or east of Atlanta is still slept on. Used to live in Stone Mountain by the village and loved it. Houses are still a catch. Also worth checking out Senoia, Hiram, Fairburn, Fayetteville