The Best Moving Companies in Athens

Athens, Georgia, is considered a nice place to live, especially for those looking for a close-knit community with close proximity to Atlanta and other easily-recognized cities like Augusta, Macon, and Savannah. Known for its deep historical and collegiate ties (per Storage Rentals of America), Athens exhibits all the hallmarks of a city with classic southern charm. In fact, UpHomes advocates that Athens is one of the best places to live in Georgia, period. Here’s a few reasons why:

• There are abundant education opportunities. According to EZHomeSearch, Athens is home to 7 different colleges and universities, including the state’s famous University of Georgia—referred to by locals as simply UGA. Established in 1785, it’s one of the oldest public universities in the U.S.
• There’s a rich cultural and arts scene. Athens is known as the origin of alternative rock (think: the B-52s and REM), the hosting-place of multiple popular music festivals, like the North Georgia Folk Festival, Classic City American Music Fest, and the Wildwood Revival.
• It has a mild climate. Temperatures in Athens remain pretty steady throughout the year, and rarely drop below freezing, even during the winter months. And they rarely reach higher than 90 degrees during the summer, although you may have to contend with some humidity.
• It’s a great place to retire. It’s been ranked as one of the best cities to retire in by Livability due to its regionally lower cost of living, comfortable climate, abundant entertainment opportunities, and scenic landscapes.

That said, it’s a good idea to remember that the cost of living in Athens is still about 3.1% higher than the national average, according to Salary.com, which is up about 1.4% from last year. As with many other cities in the nation, costs for living increased across transportation, food (groceries), and housing.

While the majority of salaries in Athens fall between $35,481 and $61,226 (per ZipRecruiter), a comfortable salary will be dependent on the needs of your family. According to MIT’s Living Wage Calculator, a decent living wage for an individual in Athens (Clarke County) is around $16.43 per hour, while it increases to about $22.40 for a family of four (with two working adults). Annually, this rounds out to about $34,174 for a single person, and about $46,592 per person for two adults with two children.

Explore Georgia notes that aside from being the home of the University of Georgia (referred to exclusively by locals as simply UGA) and its famous Georgia Bulldogs, Athens is most known for its State Botanical Garden of Georgia, the Georgia Museum of Art, and its numerous historic homes—including the Ware-Lyndon Historic House. Additionally, residents enjoy access to several craft breweries, and even the Bear Hollow Zoo—which is home to more than 120 different species and is free to the public.

A few other quirky things about Athens to note (according to Movoto) include:

• Many residents refer to the area as Clarke County, instead of Athens. Both names are viewed synonymously here.
• The area is known for the “Tree That Owns Itself”, although there may not be many who know where it’s even located.
• As a result of their collegiate pride in the UGA Bulldogs, many people spell the word dog as “dawg,” which you’ll see across multiple businesses.
• In fact, so many people spend time watching UGA football that many plan their entire weekends around it during the fall.
• Locals spend a lot of time on their front porches, no matter the season.

Athens, like many other cities, comes with its drawbacks. According to Great Guys Moving, there are just a few worth mentioning:

• Hot, muggy summers. Although the climate is considered mild, you’ll experience a lot more humidity during the summer—which can be uncomfortable at best, and sticky at worst.
• Occasionally inclement weather. Athens is not immune to dangerous weather, especially during hurricane season. And unfortunately, the threat of tornadoes is also something to contend with in this area of Georgia.
• A higher-than-average property crime rate. You’re more likely to be a victim of a property crime in Athens than you may be in other areas within the state of Georgia. In fact, Neighborhood Scout advises you have a 1 in 36 chance of being victimized by property crime, like having your car stolen.
• Higher income tax rates. The income tax rate in Athens is about 75%, according to SmartAsset, which is a bit higher than the national average of 4.6% per Great Guys.