Augusta, Georgia

Because of its location, Augusta has the perfect mix of southern and east coast weather. They don’t get the snowy, cold winter weather other east coast cities get and the summers are nice and warm. It’s true, you’ll hear people complain about the humidity, which can be brutal in June and July. People moving from cities further south will tell you it’s nothing compared to their hometown, while others coming from up north will tell you they left to get away from the harsh harsh winters. Because of the coastal location and the great weather, there are plenty of outdoor events to enjoy like kayaking, boating, and fishing, as well as biking on the many trails around the city!

Here's a nice summary from a transplant about their pov on Augusta: When I first moved here over a decade ago I hated it (came here from Atlanta so there was a big adjustment), but now I'm settled in and raising a family here. It has changed a lot and there are some really nice areas.

Low cost of living, but also access to plenty of parks, shopping, and good schools if you navigate it correctly. It only takes me about 12 minutes to get to work even though I am technically commuting into Augusta from the suburbs. If you crave the bigger city action you can drive two hours and get your fix, then come back.

You can still buy a huge house here in a nice area for a fraction of the cost of the big cities and not sacrifice much. As others have noted, the area is really growing, so I'm anticipating the good and also some of the bad that will come with it. Traffic is getting worse but it is still tolerable. At this point in my life I can't see myself wanting to move to a bigger city at all.

If you talk to anyone who’s lived in Augusta for any length of time, they’ll tell you “it’s a great place to raise kids!” But outside of young or established families, you might find Augusta a bit lacking. The city is trying hard to expand and bring in more restaurants, activities, etc. but they still have a ways to go. Young professionals looking to jumpstart their careers in tech or medical might have a bit of a hard time adjusting, especially if they’re moving from neighboring Atlanta.

Note one local's notes on cons in Augusta: It's a slower pace of life and in my opinion a lot of things are a bit behind the times/not up to the standards I got used to living elsewhere. Also the metro is very spread out and not pedestrian friendly, so I get sick of how much driving I have to do.