The Ultimate Guide to Moving to Augusta, GA

Augusta draws visitors from all over the world during Tournament Week each April, but a lot of the people who move here come for work at Fort Gordon, in the city's medical district, or one of the area's nuclear sites. After the offer comes through, the first big decision is where in the metro you want to live.

The Augusta area covers seven counties in two states, and where you settle will decide your daily commute and which state you file taxes in. Let's look at what each area costs and what it's like to live there.

Welcome to the Augusta Area

• Population: About 202,000 in the city and 641,000 across the metro
• Core Counties: Richmond and Columbia in Georgia, plus Aiken across the river in South Carolina
• Economy: Fort Gordon, Wellstar MCG Health, Augusta University, and the Savannah River Site, Plant Votgle
• Cost of Living: About 13% below the national average
• Climate: Long, humid summers and short, mild winters
• Famous For: Tournament Week, which takes over the city every April

The city and Richmond County merged into one consolidated government in the 1990s, so you'll see "Augusta-Richmond County" on your tax bill and your water service paperwork. Columbia County, which includes Evans, Martinez, Grovetown, and Harlem, has its own county government and school system.

Is Augusta a Good Place to Live?

We've called the CSRA home for a long time, and for most people who move here, the answer is yes. How much you enjoy it will depend a lot on which part of the metro you settle in.

What people like about it. Housing costs far less than it does in most Southern metros, so a household income that feels tight in Atlanta or Charlotte stretches much further here. Fort Gordon and the medical district also give the area a steady job base that doesn't rise and fall with the local economy. The Augusta Canal runs right through the city, and Clarks Hill Lake is a short drive north for boating and fishing.

What wears on people. Summers are long and sticky. Over the past few decades, most families and builders have moved toward the suburbs, and some older parts of the city still have aging houses and empty storefronts. Augusta Regional Airport is small, so a lot of residents drive to Atlanta when they want a nonstop flight.

The Job Market and Cost of Living in Augusta

Overall, the cost of living in Augusta runs about 13% below the national average. Housing accounts for most of that gap, at 32% below the national average. Groceries run about 3% cheaper and healthcare about 11% cheaper.

Fort Gordon anchors the regional economy. The post is home to the U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence and one of only three National Security Agency installations in the world, and its combined military and civilian population is about 82,000 people. The medical district is the other major draw. Wellstar MCG Health and Augusta University lead it, and AU is Georgia's only public university dedicated to the health professions.

Across the river, the Savannah River Site supports a large base of federal contractors. The cybersecurity work tied to Fort Gordon has also brought defense and IT contractors into the area over the past several years.

What Housing Costs Right Now

The median home sale price in Augusta was about $220,000 as of mid-2026, up about 2% from the year before.

That number shifts a lot depending on where you look. Newer construction in Columbia County usually costs more than the city median, while older homes in parts of Richmond County can sell for far less.

Rent and Utilities

The average rent in Augusta is about $1,230 a month, and Summerville comes in lower at around $960. Rent in Columbia County tends to run higher because so much of the housing there is newer.

Utilities cost about 4% more than the national average, which makes them the main exception to Augusta's lower prices. Your air conditioner will run most of the day in July and August, so plan for bigger power bills in those months.

Finding Your Augusta Neighborhood

Locals usually sort the area by county before they get to neighborhoods. Richmond County covers the city of Augusta, and Columbia County to the northwest has most of the newer suburbs. Across the Savannah River, Aiken County covers North Augusta and Aiken on the South Carolina side.

The choice usually comes down to character versus square footage. Older neighborhoods in the city have mature oaks and historic homes on smaller lots, while the suburbs offer newer houses on larger lots.

Downtown and Olde Town

Downtown centers on Broad Street and the Riverwalk, with local restaurants and the historic Imperial Theatre within a few blocks of each other. Olde Town, just east of downtown, has Victorian houses on narrow streets, and owners have restored many of them. It's a good fit for people who want to walk to dinner and don't mind the upkeep of an older home.

Summerville

Summerville, often called "the Hill," sits on high ground west of downtown. Wealthy families originally built homes here to get away from the summer heat of the lowlands, and the neighborhood still has large historic houses under big oak trees. Augusta University's Summerville campus sits in the middle of the neighborhood, and average rent here runs under $1,000 a month.

West Augusta

West Augusta covers the established neighborhoods around Washington Road, a few minutes west of downtown. It has older brick homes on wooded lots, and Washington Road has plenty of shopping and restaurants with quick access to I-20.

Martinez

Martinez sits in Columbia County just across the line from West Augusta, and it's one of the area's most established suburbs. The neighborhoods tend to be older than the ones in Evans, with larger lots and mature landscaping, and you get Columbia County schools with a shorter drive into Augusta. Martinez isn't an incorporated city, so Columbia County handles its services directly.

Evans

Evans has grown quickly in recent years, and much of its housing is newer construction in planned subdivisions. Evans Towne Center Park hosts outdoor concerts through the warmer months. Many families choose Evans for Columbia County's public schools.

Grovetown

Grovetown sits just north of Fort Gordon, which makes it a popular choice for military families and civilians who work on post. The town has grown fast and offers many newer homes at lower prices than Evans. Grovetown is also home to Wellstar Columbia County Medical Center, which opened in August 2026.

Harlem and Appling

Farther out in Columbia County, Harlem and Appling offer a more rural setting with larger lots and room for a workshop or a few acres. Appling sits near Clarks Hill Lake and Mistletoe State Park. Harlem has a small downtown and the Laurel and Hardy Museum, since Oliver Hardy was born there. Expect a longer drive into Augusta for work and errands.

North Augusta

North Augusta sits directly across the river from downtown Augusta, and a short drive over the bridge puts you on Broad Street. Riverside Village and SRP Park, home of the Augusta GreenJackets minor league baseball team, give the riverfront a busy town center. The Greeneway Trail runs through the city for walking and biking.

Aiken

Aiken is its own city about 25 minutes from Augusta, with a historic downtown and a long equestrian tradition. Hitchcock Woods, one of the largest urban forests in the country, sits right in town, and the area hosts steeplechase and polo events each spring. Aiken is also close to the Savannah River Site, so a lot of SRS employees live there and enjoy the slower small-town pace after work.

Living in Georgia vs. South Carolina

A lot of people who work in Augusta live in South Carolina, and many North Augusta and Aiken residents cross the river every day for work. The state you live in changes a few parts of your budget and your paperwork.

Income Taxes

Georgia charges a flat 4.99% income tax for 2026. South Carolina charges 1.99% on taxable income under $30,000 and 5.21% above that, so the gap between the two states is now fairly small.

If you live in one state and work in the other, you'll generally file returns in both. Your home state then gives you a credit for the tax you paid to the other one. A local tax preparer can walk you through your first year.

Vehicle Taxes

Georgia charges new residents a one-time title ad valorem tax of 3% of the vehicle's value. After that, you pay tag fees each year.

South Carolina works differently. Your county bills you for vehicle property tax every year, and you have to pay that bill before the SCDMV will register or renew your car. Add it to your budget if you're comparing houses on both sides of the river.

Schools

Each county runs its own public school system on both sides of the river. Confirm which district serves a specific address before you commit to a house.

Getting Around Augusta

You'll need a car in the Augusta area. The city's public bus system runs routes within Augusta, but the suburbs and the South Carolina side have very little transit service.

I-20 is the main east-west route, connecting Columbia County to Augusta and crossing into South Carolina. I-520 is called the Bobby Jones Expressway on the Georgia side and the Palmetto Parkway in South Carolina, and it loops around the southern edge of the city and across the river. Traffic is lighter than in larger metros, though the river crossings and Washington Road can back up at rush hour.

Augusta Regional Airport handles regional flights. For nonstop options, many residents make the roughly two-and-a-half-hour drive to Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta.

Schools and Healthcare in the Augusta Area

Public schools follow county lines here, so the county you choose determines where your children go to school. Columbia County's schools draw a lot of families to Evans and Martinez. Richmond County offers magnet programs like Davidson Fine Arts, one of the highest-ranked high schools in the country.

For higher education, Augusta University houses the Medical College of Georgia. Augusta Technical College and Paine College are also in the city, and USC Aiken sits across the river.

Healthcare is one of the area's biggest strengths. Wellstar MCG Health is the region's academic medical center and Level I trauma center, and it includes the Children's Hospital of Georgia. Piedmont Augusta, Doctors Hospital, the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, and Eisenhower Army Medical Center at Fort Gordon also serve the area.

Getting Set Up as a New Resident

On the Georgia Side

New Georgia residents have 30 days to get a Georgia driver's license and register their vehicles. You'll need the license before the county tag office will register your car, and you'll pay the one-time 3% title ad valorem tax when you title it.

You can skip emissions testing. Georgia only requires it in 13 metro Atlanta counties, and neither Richmond nor Columbia is on the list.

On the South Carolina Side

Start with the Aiken County Auditor's Office, which generates a property tax bill for your vehicle. Once you pay that bill through the county treasurer, bring the paid receipt to the SCDMV to title and register your car. The SCDMV's Moving to SC page lists the paperwork you'll need.

For utilities and other city services in Augusta, the city's Moving to Augusta page lists the agencies and providers you'll need to contact.

The Augusta Climate

Augusta's hot season starts in late May and lasts until mid-September, with average daily highs above 85°F.

Winter is short and fairly mild. January averages a high of 57°F and a low of 39°F.

Spring arrives early, with azaleas and dogwoods blooming around Tournament Week. Pine pollen coats cars and porches in yellow for a few weeks, so plan to change your HVAC filter more often in March and April.

Storm season can reach this far inland, too. Hurricanes and tropical storms sometimes move through the area in late summer and fall and bring down trees and power lines, so learn where your breaker box and water shutoff are before hurricane season starts in June.

Ready for Your Move to Augusta?

Go Mini's of Augusta is part of Ellefson Transportation Group, which has been moving families around the CSRA for decades. Our local team knows the area well, and we're always happy to answer questions about your move or about getting settled once you're here.

A portable container gives you more flexibility than a rental truck. We'll drop one in your driveway so you can pack at your own pace, even if that means a few boxes each evening after work. When you're ready, we'll deliver it to your new home or keep it at our secure local facility until your closing date or new lease comes through.

If you're headed to Fort Gordon, see how a container can help you save more of your PPM dollars. And if you just matched at the Medical College of Georgia, congratulations! Our guide to handling the gap before residency starts can help you plan the weeks between graduation and your first day.

If you'd rather hand off the whole move, our sister company, ADSI Moving Systems, is an agent for United Van Lines and can take care of the packing and long-distance transport.

Need Moving Storage in Augusta? Get an instant quote from Go Mini's of Augusta, or give our local team a call at (706) 659-9747. We'd love to help you get settled in the CSRA.

Frequently Asked Questions