What it's like to live in Savannah
Savannah is a mid-size city in Georgia with home prices that remain within reach, unemployment below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Savannah deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and hospital ratings below the national average.
The good
- Affordable home prices
- Low unemployment
- Short commutes
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Air quality concerns
- Below-average hospital ratings
- High poverty rate
- High rent burden for renters
How Savannah compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Savannah
Based on Savannah's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,764
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $55,280 a year
- 52% of Savannah renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$49,780
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $24,890
- Homes cost 4.4× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,382/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,382 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $248,900. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $248,900 · 52% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 26% below US
3.2% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.2%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 22% above US
439 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 2127/100k · Savannah Police Department · 2021 data
Getting around▼ 20% below US
21 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 20.7 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 12% 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
Healthcare
5 hospitals
There are 5 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 1.7 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
33% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 33% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
41 public schools inside the boundary
There are 41 public schools inside the boundary and 18 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1, 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 (15 miles away). There are 6 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Savannah's strongest points are home prices that remain within reach and unemployment below the national average; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,382/mo) equals 29% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers and people who want short commutes.
Other places near Savannah
All Georgia guides →Moving to Garden City →
4 mi away · pop. 10,426
Rent $1,282/mo · Income $47,814
Compare with Savannah →Moving to Port Wentworth →
12 mi away · pop. 12,892
Rent $1,812/mo · Income $79,731
Compare with Savannah →Not sure Savannah is the one?
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