Welcome to Georgia

Your life in the Peach State begins

Georgia Self-Storage Reasons to Move to Georgia Moving to Georgia Economic Outlook Places to Live Resources

Welcome to Georgia

Georgia is the 8th largest state in the US, with a population of 10.6 million people. Nestled in the southeastern region of the country, Georgia is bordered by North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, South Carolina, and Florida. While Northern Georgia is mountainous, the central region is filled with rolling hills and the southern region is essentially a flat coastal plain. The Blue Ridge Mountains call Northern Georgia home and the two largest rivers of central Georgia, the Oconee and the Ocmulgee flow together to form the Altamaha.

Georgia is home to about 18 Fortune 500 Companies, including Coca Cola, Delta Air Lines, Home Depot, UPS, and Aflac, among others. Some of the state's major industries include agriculture (cotton, cattle, calves, chicken eggs, and peanuts), manufacturing, mining, fishing, and services. Georgia manufactures processed foods and drinks and textiles like carpeting, yarn, and synthetic fabrics, and tire cord.

There's plenty to do if you decide to make the move to the Peach State, including attractions like the World of Coca-Cola, Rock City Gardens, the Georgia Aquarium, Centennial Olympic Park, and LEGOLAND Discovery Center. Atlanta is the cultural hub of Georgia and offers plenty in terms of entertainment, events, food, and fun. Georgia's also got more than 50 state parks and tons of beaches so if you're considering a permanent move to the Peach State, you won't be disappointed.

Georgia Self-Storage Facts

As Georgia grows, so does the need for new self-storage facilities. Over the last few years developers have rushed to the market to develop new storage properties. A lack of construction following the last recession led to a shortage of storage space that was not sufficient to meet the demands of a growing population. That has created tremendous opportunity for self-storage developers to build more rentable storage space in Georgia, which is an essential product for people moving or in the midst of other life transitions.

Below are some statistics that provide an overview of the self-storage industry in Georgia:

1,502

Georgia is home to an estimated 1,502 self-storage facilities.

58,391,886

Georgia self-storage facilities cover 58,391,886 square feet of storage space.

5.82

Georgia storage facilities offer 5.82 square feet of storage per person, which is close to the national average of 5.4 square feet per person.

Reasons to Move to Georgia

Georgia has a lot to offer both visitors and residents alike, so if you're considering Georgia for your new home state, these reasons might just sway you to put down some roots in the Peach State.

1

Good vibes only. If you're considering moving to the great state of Georgia, you'll love the southern hospitality sprinkled with a little southern charm. Savannah was listed as one of the 10 friendliest cities in the country by Conde Nast.

2

Warm weather. Not a fan of winter weather? You'll love the Peach State because it's warm pretty much all year round. Even in January, temperatures only get as low as 52 degrees. The average temperature is around 62 degrees.

3

Atlanta. Need we say more? Atlanta is a booming city filled with opportunities for both work and play. If you're looking for a big-city atmosphere, then ATL might just work for you.

4

Fresh produce. Georgia has a large amount of farmland and natural beauty so it's no wonder the state produces a lot of...well, produce. If you love shopping for fresh fruits and veggies at your local farmer's market, you'll love their peaches and boiled peanuts come summertime.

5

Great educational institutions. Georgia is home to some of the best educational institutions in the country. It has some of the best high schools in the country, which includes schools in Gwinnett County, Johns Creek, and Alpharetta. But it's also got top-notch higher education institutions so if you ever want to go back to school, you've got some great options.

6

Affordable housing. While housing might be similar to New York and LA in Atlanta, there are plenty of Georgia cities that offer affordable housing, whether you're renting or buying. Not to mention, Athens, Columbus, and Augusta are amazing cities offering pretty high salaries.

7

Easy access to traveling opportunities. Atlanta is home to one of the busiest international airports, which means if you live in Georgia you'll have access to the best flights that leave right from your home state.

8

Sports fanatics' dream. Georgia is home to several sports teams, including the Hawks, the Falcons, the Gladiators, and the Bulldogs. The state is also known as one of the birthplaces of NASCAR and there are more than 20 racetracks throughout the state.

9

The cuisine. Moving to Georgia means you'll have access to some of the most delectable cuisine known to man - southern food. From their barbecue and cornbread to their fried chicken and peach cobbler, you'll be sure to get your fill of delicious southern food. Let's not forget about their signature sweet tea that goes with pretty much any savory meal.

10

An abundance of natural beauty. Georgia's got an amazingly large amount of natural beauty, from its plentiful trees and sprawling greenery to its natural lakes and mountains. Any nature lover would feel right at home exploring the sweeping landscapes of Georgia.

Moving to Georgia

Georgia has a population of 10.6 million people and ranks as the 8th largest state in terms of population. From 2018 to 2019, Georgia's population increased by 1.03 percent. Overall, more people are moving to Georgia than from it. Those that are moving into the state came for a variety of reasons, including lifestyle, health, new job, retirement, family, and lifestyle. Some of the reasons people left are some of the same reasons.

Georgia Economic Outlook

Georgia's state GDP is $510 billion, which is almost as much as Belgium's at $524 billion. The unemployment rate is 3.6 in Georgia as of August 2019, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Overall, Georgia's economy is moving in the right direction in the coming years.

Below is a breakdown of Georgia's largest sectors by real value added GDP

$195.25 billion

Finance, insurance, real estate, rental, and leasing

$124.2 billion

Professional and business services

$97.3 billion

Government and government enterprises

$90.24 billion

Educational services, health care, and social assistance

$72.58 billion

Retail trade

Georgia is expected to move towards a slow recovery with a decrease in unemployment and an increase in annual GDP through 2020. Georgia has a cost of living score of 100.3, meaning it's somewhat more expensive than the US as a whole, although not by much. However, that doesn't mean Georgia can't offer affordable living. Cities like Duluth, Newnan, Gainesville, Warner Robins, and Smyrna are all affordable cities in Georgia.

Who are Georgia's Largest Employers?

EMPLOYER

NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES

The Home Depot

406,000

UPS

335,520

Randstad USA

125,000

The Coca-Cola Company

100,300

Hansen Beverage

100,300

Places to live in Georgia

The state of Georgia is 59,425 square miles and within that area lies plenty of places to call your new home. Among the largest cities in Georgia are Atlanta, Augusta, and Columbus, which you learn more about below.

Atlanta

Atlanta is the largest city in Georgia with a population of 501,178 people. Known as ATL in some circles, the city is the 38th most populous city in the US. It's also the major commercial and cultural hub of Georgia. ATL has tons to offer both visitors and residents, including the Atlanta Botanical Garden, the Georgia Aquarium, Piedmont Park, LEGOLAND Discovery Center, and the World of Coca-Cola.

Cost of living

1 percent lower than the national average

Median home price

$261,100

Average rent

$1,485 per month

Average apartment size

978 square feet

Augusta

Augusta is the second-largest city in Georgia and has roughly 197,000 residents living inside the city limits. The city is best known for hosting one of the four major PGA golf tournaments called The Masters. But Augusta has much more to offer than hitting a hole in one, including the Augusta Museum of History, the Phinizy Swamp Nature Park, and plenty of other parks, concerts, shows, events, spas, and restaurants.

Cost of living

13 percent lower than the national average

Median home price

$129,900

Average rent

$846 per month

Average apartment size

921 square feet

Columbus

Nestled along the Chattahoochee River, Columbus is the third most populous city in Georgia and has a population of about 194,000 people. The city covers roughly 220 square miles and is a key tourist destination, with so many attractions like the Coca-Cola Space Science Center, the Columbus Aquatic Center, the Chattahoochee RiverWalk, the Columbus Botanical Garden, the Columbus Museum, and Sherlock's Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre.

Cost of living

11 percent lower than the national average

Median home price

$95,000

Average rent

$947 per month

Average apartment size

885 square feet

Welcome to Georgia

Your life in the Peach State begins