Georgia is a state in the US Southeast that is renowned for its varied culture, long history, and breathtaking scenery. Georgia is not a popular choice for those searching for a new place to live, despite its many charms. In actuality, Georgia saw a net migration loss of 10,886 individuals in 2020, meaning that more people left the state than arrived, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. For what reason is that the case? These are seven potential explanations for why nobody is relocating to Georgia.
1. The Weather Is Unpredictable
Georgia is not the place to go if you want reliable weather. Georgia enjoys hot, muggy summers, mild winters, and regular thunderstorms due to its humid subtropical climate. However, depending on the area and the season, the weather might also change significantly.
For instance, the state’s northern region may see snow and ice in the winter, while the southern region may experience hurricanes and tropical storms in the summer. Additionally, there can be significant variations in the weather throughout the day or even from one day to the next. Living in Georgia, you never know what to expect.
2. The Cost of Living Is High
Georgia is not the most costly state in the union, but it is also not the least. Georgia had a regional price parity of 91.4 in 2019, which indicates that the cost of goods and services in the state was 8.6% less than the national average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. That being said, this also implies that Georgia’s cost of living was greater than that of 28 other states.
Furthermore, the town or city in which you reside might have a big impact on the cost of living. For example, Atlanta, the capital and largest city of the state, has one of the highest cost of living in the South in 2020, with a 7.5% increase above the national average.
3. The Traffic Is Terrible
Should you decide to relocate to Georgia, you must be ready to travel extensively. Georgia, particularly the Atlanta metropolitan area, has some of the worst traffic congestion in the nation. Atlanta ranks as the fourth most congested city in the United States and the 11th most congested city in the world in 2019 according to the INRIX Global Traffic Scorecard, with drivers spending an average of 108 hours in traffic annually.
Not only is Georgia’s traffic issue annoying, but it’s also expensive and risky. The Georgia Department of Transportation reports that there were 1,507 traffic fatalities in the state in 2020, and the Texas A&M Transportation Institute estimates that traffic congestion cost Georgia drivers $7.1 billion in lost time and fuel in 2019.
4. The Education System Is Poor
You might want to reconsider moving to Georgia if you are a parent or intend to become a parent. In terms of both quality and results, Georgia’s educational system is among the worst in the nation. Georgia’s education ranking in 2021 was 30th out of 50 states, according to U.S. News & World Report. The ranking was determined by taking into account many aspects such test scores, college preparedness, high school graduation rate, and preschool enrollment.
Georgia’s high school graduation rate for the 2018–2019 school year was 82%, which was lower than the 85% national average, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Georgia’s 2020 average SAT score, according to the College Board, was 1043, lower than the 1051 nationwide average.
5. The Health Care System Is Inadequate
The poor quality and accessibility of Georgia’s healthcare system is another reason you might want to reconsider relocating there. Georgia’s health care ranking in 2021 was 42nd out of 50 states, according to U.S. News & World Report. This ranking was based on aspects such public health, quality, and accessibility of healthcare.
Georgia has the third-highest uninsured rate in the nation in 2019—13.4%—well above the 9.2% national average, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Based on metrics including access, cost, quality, equity, and outcomes, Georgia’s health care system performed 46th out of 51 states and the District of Columbia in 2020, according to the Commonwealth Fund.
6. The Crime Rate Is High
Georgia might not be the ideal option if you’re searching for a quiet, safe area to reside. When it comes to violent and property crimes, Georgia has one of the highest rates in the nation. Georgia has the 15th highest violent crime rate in the nation in 2019—357.6 per 100,000 people—well above the 366.7 average for the entire nation, according to the FBI. Georgia also had the tenth-highest property crime rate in the nation in 2019—2,476.8 per 100,000 people—well over the national average of 2,109.9, according to the FBI.
7. The Culture Is Not For Everyone
Lastly, the culture of Georgia is one of the reasons you might decide against moving there. Some people may find Georgia’s strong Southern identity charming, but others may not find it so. Georgia’s history, culture, and cuisine are rich and varied, but the state also bears the scars of racism, segregation, and slavery, which are still evident in some areas of the state.
Georgia is also a deeply religious and conservative state, which, depending on your own values and views, may either bring you peace or cause you to experience strife. Not everyone belongs in Georgia, and if you are not accustomed to or comfortable with the Southern way of life, you may find it difficult to blend in or feel at home.
Conclusion
Georgia is a state with a lot of advantages and disadvantages, so not everyone would love living there. The unpredictability of the weather, the high expense of living, the awful traffic, the inadequate health care and education systems, the high crime rate, and the state’s culture are some of the reasons why people are not relocating to Georgia.
Of course, there are other considerations at play when deciding whether or not to relocate, and some individuals may feel that Georgia is an excellent area to call home. Nonetheless, it appears from the facts and evidence that most individuals searching for a new place to call home do not find Georgia to be particularly appealing or desirable.
