Living in Macon, Georgia

Macon is so known for its architecture that it has been called “a textbook of historic architecture”. It has 15 historic districts and over 6,000 historic buildings all listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There are so many architectural styles in Macon including Gothic, Romanesque, Victorian, Neoclassical Revival, Beau Arts, Queen Anne, Italianate, Craftsmen, Tudor Revival, Art Deco, Moderne, and another half dozen more. What’s amazing about Macon is that you don’t just visit the historic district; the entire city is a historic district. Here, you live amongst the history, giving the city a feeling of substance and strength that other cities this small don’t typically bring.

Macon has suffered through some extremely tough years when it wasn’t clear the city would rise to be a place of growth and positive energy. That comeback isn’t complete, and so the city still holds a negative reputation that hurts housing prices and can cause those who review the city from afar or who lived here in the past to knock it around. If you move here, you must have some thick skin to take the hits and judge the emerging Macon for yourself.

Macon's social scene is heavily music-oriented. R&B and Southern Rock have a rich history here with the Allman Brothers among the world-class artists who came from and recorded here. That music-centricity remains with plenty of festivals and live music venues offering entertainment year-round. It also has an annual Cherry Blossom festival that celebrates what is reputed to be more cherry blossom trees than even Washington, D.C. The Downtown area is the source of the music festival and event culture, including the Capitol Theatre and the Grand Opera House. Just as much, the area is known for an excellent outdoor scene as well. Amerson River Park has 180 acres of upland forest and 7 miles of trails that overlook the beautiful Ocmulgee River. You can hike, canoe, kayak, and explore the wetlands through this and other parks all within the city limits.

To see what locals get up to for fun in Macon check out the calendar of events.

We highly recommend visiting Macon and staying in the community in a VRBO rather than a hotel to get a feel for living among the locals. You can also receive discounted travel fares via our partnership with Expedia.

The job market is anchored by health care (Navicent Health), higher education (Mercer University), and government. The city also plays a logistical role, with Interstate 75 connecting it to Atlanta and Florida, and warehousing and freight jobs available on the outskirts.

It’s not a tech town or a startup haven, but for healthcare workers, educators, and tradespeople, there’s stable opportunity here. Geico is one of the largest employers in town.

Remote workers looking for space and affordability also find Macon appealing. While Atlanta is 85 miles away, too long for daily commutes, it's workable if you're just going in a day or so a week.