The Vibe: Big Cities, Small Towns—Georgia Has It All
A state that’s made up of several huge metropolitan areas and countless small towns, the people here are just as diverse as the landscape.
Southern charm tends to run rampant regardless of where you’re at, but expect a much faster pace of life the more populated an area is. Bigger cities like Atlanta, Columbus, and Savannah tend to attract a much more diverse crowd from around the country, as a lot of people find themselves moving to
Georgia to these places from other states.
In smaller towns, that’s not really the case, with much of the population in these areas consisting of people from families that have lived there for generations. Despite how much diversity is found in this state, every little area tends to have its own special charm and a few characteristics that make it unique.
Local Flavor: There’s Always Something Fun To Do In Georgia
The happenings around Georgia are just as diverse as the people that live there, with a great mix of rural festivals celebrating things that might seem obscure to the average American and huge big city parties capable of attracting hundreds of thousands of people.
A few of the most popular annual events around this state include the International Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon, the massive Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the Georgia Renaissance Festival, and the Atlanta Jazz Festival, one of the largest festivals of its type in America.
Cuisine: Southern Cooking At Its Finest
Georgia might be known for their peaches nationwide, but the local cuisine is much more expansive than just fruit. Specializing in cooking up some of the best comfort food you’ll ever have the pleasure of eating, the Southern cooking here is so delicious you’ll constantly be looking forward to your next meal.
A few of the more popular dishes include grits, Brunswick stew, fried chicken, cornbread, and chicken and dumplings. Pecans and peanuts also tend to find their way into many of the local recipes and it would practically be a sin to talk about Georgia cuisine without mentioning how awesome the local barbecue is.
Nightlife: It’s A Diverse As The People That Live Here
A state with tons of small towns and several larger cities like Atlanta, Augusta and Columbus, the nightlife scene is pretty diverse in the Peach State. The small towns usually have one or two watering holes that keep the tiny local populations occupied on their weekends, while the larger cities have world-class nighttime entertainment. Atlanta, for example, has the Andrews Entertainment District, an area filled with bars, clubs, all types of dining, and a comedy club.
If you’re considering a move to Georgia and love living a vibrant social life late into the night, set your sights for one of the larger cities in this state.
Weather: It’s Hard To Complain When It’s Always Warm And Sunny
Notable for its warm weather, summers in Georgia get pretty hot and humid, with average temperatures during the summer months hanging around 77 degrees. The winter months don’t even get that cold, dropping down to a slight chilly 48, with very rare snow with the exception of some of the more mountainous areas farther away from the ocean.
While the weather in Georgia usually doesn’t cause too many problems, it is worth mentioning that some of the Southern coastal areas of the state are more susceptible to tropical storms, though they rarely hit Georgia directly.
Safety & Crime: Crime Rates Are High, But They’re Getting Better
The average crime rate across the state of Georgia is 3,712 reported criminal acts per 100,000 residents, slightly higher than the national average of 3,099. Of course, this number is likely inflated due to Atlanta, which experiences crime at nearly twice that rate. While that might seem high, higher numbers are typical for larger cities and it’s important to mention that this number has been dropping by 7 percent each year.
Commute: Getting Around This State Is A Breeze
Traveling around Georgia is never too stressful, especially in the rural areas that have essentially no traffic. Even big cities like Atlanta aren’t too bad, with an efficient highway system resulting in an average commute time of 26 minutes and great public transportation featuring buses and one of the busiest subways in the country.
Cost of Living: Living In Georgia Is Quite The Bargain
Georgia is inexpensive compared to most states around the country, with a cost of living score of 95 on the same cost of living index that puts average America at 100. Even the big cities here aren’t too expensive, with Atlanta scoring a 107 and places like Savannah scoring a low 97. Most of the savings around here come from the housing market, with the average home price in Georgia being $156,000, much lower than the national average of $181,000.
Sports: This State Has It All
If you’re a big sports fan, you’ll love the Peach State. Not only is Georgia home to several professional sports teams, it also harbors a great college athletics atmosphere with some of the best tailgating in the entire country.
All of the major league sports are headquartered in Atlanta, including Braves baseball, Falcons football, Hawks basketball, and the Rhinos rugby squad. There are also several minor league teams scattered around other cities in Georgia including Savannah Sand Gnats baseball team and Gwinnett Gladiators hockey. NASCAR is also huge in Georgia, with over 22 race tracks and drag strips found in nearly every corner of the state.
Plus, with 28 NCAA schools competing around the Peach State, seven of which play at the Division 1 level, it’s always easy to find tickets to a game at one of the local colleges.
Nature: Diversity Meets Beauty
There’s always something new to do outside in Georgia, thanks to all that sunshine and the very diverse regions you can find around the state. The northern part of the state is home to the Appalachian Plateau and the Blue Ridge Mountains, with tons of awesome hiking through hilly terrain.
In the center of the state where you’ll find Atlanta and Athens, things aren’t quite so elevated, but they’re still hilly and very green, home to the prominent Stone Mountain, reaching an elevation of 1,686 feet.
Then you’ve got the most southern part of Georgia called the coastal plain, which is really pretty similar to the terrain you’d find in northern Florida. It’s notable for butting up to the Atlantic Ocean with over 100 miles of coastline, perfect for beach days.
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