What it's like to live in Port Wentworth
Port Wentworth is a small city in Georgia with home prices that remain within reach, county unemployment below the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and a population that has grown fast since 2020. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Port Wentworth deals with rent well above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and hot summers.
The good
- Affordable home prices
- Low unemployment in the county
- Low crime rates
- Fast-growing population
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Air quality concerns
- High rent burden for renters
- Hot summers
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Port Wentworth compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Port Wentworth
Based on Port Wentworth's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,624
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $72,480 a year
- 51% of Port Wentworth renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$45,620
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $22,810
- Homes cost 2.9× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 28% above US
$1,812/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,812 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $228,100. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $228,100 · 51% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
2.9% county unemployment
Unemployment in Chatham County is 2.9%, a little below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Chatham County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 49% below US
168 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 560/100k · Port Wentworth Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
27 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 26.6 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 5% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 91°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 42°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 31% below US
25% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 25%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
1 public school inside the boundary
There is 1 public school inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Fort Pulaski National Monument (19 miles away). There are 6 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Port Wentworth's strongest points are home prices that remain within reach and county unemployment below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks. A year of median rent ($1,812/mo) equals 27% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers (county-wide unemployment is low) and anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
Other places near Port Wentworth
All Georgia guides →Moving to Pooler →
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Rent $1,671/mo · Income $91,766
Compare with Port Wentworth →Moving to Rincon →
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Compare with Port Wentworth →Moving to Garden City →
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Compare with Port Wentworth →Moving to Savannah →
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