Augusta vs Macon
Compare Augusta, GA and Macon, GA on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $1,016/mo in Augusta and $946/mo in Macon, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,100/mo and $1,146/mo. Across the four public-data screens (cost/climate, work, daily life, community) the metros land close together (246 vs 244 summed points), so the right pick depends on which tradeoffs you can live with.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 93°F and 92°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Macon; if walkable daily life matters more, Macon screens stronger on the walkability proxy (7 vs 5). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Both cities are close on the cost and climate screen.
Both cities are close on the work screen.
Macon leads 46 to 41 on the daily life screen.
Augusta leads 54 to 49 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Augusta is roughly $127,500 in Macon using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Augusta | Macon | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,016/mo | $946/mo | Macon |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,100/mo | $1,146/mo | Augusta |
| Median home value | $187,000 | $160,000 | Macon |
| State income tax | 5.2% | 5.2% | Tie |
| Average commute | 26.1 min | 26.5 min | Augusta |
| Safety score | 50/100 | 53/100 | Macon |
| School score | 4/10 | 3/10 | Augusta |
| Walkability estimate | 5/100 | 7/100 | Macon |
| Outdoor score | 7/10 | 7/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 158.9 | 186.9 | Macon |
| Mountain distance | 114 mi | 73 mi | Macon |
| Coast distance | 94 mi | 157 mi | Augusta |
What stands out
Augusta stronger signals
- Trail access within 10 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 131 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
Augusta tradeoffs
- No major generic tradeoffs identified
Macon stronger signals
- Trail access within 13 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 150 miles
- Mountain access within 73 miles
Macon tradeoffs
- Higher natural disaster risk
Common questions
Is Augusta cheaper than Macon?
On public benchmarks Macon is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,016/mo in Augusta vs $946/mo in Macon; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,100/mo vs $1,146/mo; state income tax is 5.2% vs 5.2%.
Is Augusta or Macon safer?
Macon screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 50/100 for Augusta and 53/100 for Macon (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Augusta or Macon?
School screens show 4/10 for Augusta vs 3/10 for Macon, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Augusta and Macon?
Augusta: summer highs near 93°F, winter lows near 33°F, disaster-risk band 2/3. Macon: 92°F / 33°F, disaster-risk band 3/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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