© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Augusta.
About
Life in Augusta
The job market is anchored by serious institutional players: Augusta University alone employs over 7,000 people, the Medical District brings in another 25,000-plus jobs, Fort Gordon's Cyber Command is a major military presence, and the Savannah River Site adds stable government work to the mix, so you're not betting your career on a single industry. The city has genuinely diversified beyond its old resort-town reputation, though yes, the Masters brings 200,000 visitors every spring if you're into golf—mostly you'll just notice extra traffic for a couple weeks. What keeps locals here is community that actually feels present: a strong African American cultural foundation, growing Latino and Asian communities, and a riverfront that's getting real investment with the Riverwalk and Augusta Canal trails for weekend bike rides without needing to drive an hour.
Augusta at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
20.1%
Foreign-Born
3.8%
Broadband Internet
87.7%
of households
Population Growth
0.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.8% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Augusta: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Augusta, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (8.7%), and 3.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.8%
of residents
65 and Older
15.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
35.4%
of households
Married Couples
30.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.56
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 18% below GA average
Rent, home values, and income in Augusta
In Augusta, rent runs 18% below the GA average, and home values are 41% below the GA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
52.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
27.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
91.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,520
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
50.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1980
median year built
Vacant Homes
17.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $187,663 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.3 pts above GA average
Unemployment in Augusta
Unemployment in Richmond County, which includes Augusta, is 1.3 percentage points higher than the GA average.
Unemployment rate
Augusta: Richmond County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Richmond County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Augusta Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute21.1 min avg
How Augusta residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Augusta, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 77% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 7 mi
Augusta Regional At Bush Field (AGS)
Regional airport · few flights319k passengers boarded in 2025
- 118 mi
Charleston International Airport (CHS)
Medium hub3.1M passengers boarded in 2025
- 134 mi
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
Major hub25.9M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 50% above national average
Crime rates for 2024
Violent crime in the area policed by the Augusta-Richmond County Sheriff's Office, which covers Augusta, runs 50% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
546.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (363 national, 2024)
Property Crime Rate
3,652
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,767 national, 2024)
Policed by Augusta-Richmond County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 4 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
87.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Richmond County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Richmond County, which includes Augusta, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 4 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | Not estimated |
| 2024 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $500.0M |
| 2023 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $253,410 |
| 2022 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $120 |
| 2021 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | $30 |
| 2020 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $70,230 |
| 2019 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10,310 |
| 2018 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $25,700 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
3 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Richmond County, county-wide
Air Quality52 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Richmond County, which includes Augusta, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
52
Good Days
171
per year
Moderate Days
192
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Richmond County, county-wide
Climate93°F summers, 37°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Augusta has hot summers (avg high 93°F) and mild winters (avg low 37°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
78°/51°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
93°/70°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
79°/53°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
62°/37°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
44.1"
Annual Snowfall
0.8"
Hot Days/Year
86
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
51
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
107
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60°F | 35°F | 3.84" |
| Feb | 64°F | 38°F | 3.67" |
| Mar | 71°F | 44°F | 4.08" |
| Apr | 79°F | 51°F | 2.92" |
| May | 86°F | 60°F | 3.05" |
| Jun | 91°F | 68°F | 4.75" |
| Jul | 94°F | 72°F | 4.48" |
| Aug | 93°F | 71°F | 4.61" |
| Sep | 88°F | 65°F | 3.60" |
| Oct | 79°F | 53°F | 2.56" |
| Nov | 69°F | 42°F | 2.66" |
| Dec | 62°F | 37°F | 3.87" |
Healthcare6 hospitals, avg 2.5/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Augusta
Augusta has 6 hospitals, averaging 2.5 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
6
within city limits
Uninsured
11.8%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.5 / 5
Augusta VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available
Doctors Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Piedmont Augusta Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Wellstar Mcg Health, Affiliated With Med Col
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education12.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Augusta
Augusta's student/teacher ratio is 12.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 24.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
48
within city limits
Private Schools
12
within city limits
College Degree Rate
24.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Augusta
Public · 4-year · 5,613 students · in-state tuition $8,414 · 55% graduate · median earnings $52,071 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 388 students · in-state tuition $15,357 · median earnings $37,183 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Ninety Six National Historic Site, 54 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Augusta
Augusta has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Ninety Six National Historic Site (54 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Ninety Six National Historic Site
National Historic Site
54 mi awayCongaree National Park
National Park
82 mi awayOcmulgee Mounds National Historical Park
National Historical Park
96 mi awayPublic Libraries in Augusta
Augusta Public Library
823 Telfair Street, Augusta
Appleby Branch
2260 Walton Way, Augusta
Diamond Lakes Branch
101 Diamond Lakes Way, Hephzibah
Friedman Branch
1447 Jackson Road, Augusta
Maxwell Branch
1927 Lumpkin Road, Augusta
Wallace Branch
1237 Laney Walker Blvd, Augusta
Cities Near Augusta
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Augusta?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Augusta FAQ
Is Augusta, Georgia affordable?⌄
Augusta's median rent is $1,142/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $55,485/year. Median home value is $178,400.
Is Augusta, Georgia safe?⌄
Augusta is policed by the Augusta-Richmond County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 547 per 100,000 residents in 2024, which is above the national average of 363/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3652 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Augusta, Georgia?⌄
Richmond County, which includes Augusta, has an unemployment rate of 4.7%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Augusta, Georgia?⌄
The cost of living in Augusta is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,142/month and median household income is $55,485/year. The median home value is $178,400. About 52% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Augusta, Georgia?⌄
The average commute in Augusta is 21 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from