Macon vs Savannah
Compare Macon, GA and Savannah, GA on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Macon is the cheaper metro on paper: ACS median rent runs $946/mo versus $1,266/mo in Savannah — a gap of about $320/mo — and HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents show $1,146/mo against $1,445/mo. Across the four public-data screens (cost/climate, work, daily life, community) the metros land close together (258 vs 249 summed points), so the right pick depends on which tradeoffs you can live with.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 92°F and 91°F respectively. Long-term hazard exposure also separates them: Macon screens more resilient on the FEMA National Risk Index composite (90 vs 8/100, higher = lower expected annual loss per resident). If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Macon; if walkable daily life matters more, Savannah screens stronger on the walkability proxy (15 vs 7). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Macon leads 87 to 66 on the cost and climate screen.
Both cities are close on the work screen.
Both cities are close on the daily life screen.
Savannah leads 59 to 49 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Macon is roughly $28,333 in Savannah using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Macon | Savannah | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $946/mo | $1,266/mo | Macon |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,146/mo | $1,445/mo | Macon |
| Median home value | $160,000 | $250,000 | Macon |
| State income tax | 5.2% | 5.2% | Tie |
| Average commute | 26.5 min | 26.8 min | Macon |
| Safety score | 53/100 | 53/100 | Tie |
| School score | 3/10 | 5/10 | Savannah |
| Walkability estimate | 7/100 | 15/100 | Savannah |
| Outdoor score | 8/10 | 6/10 | Macon |
| Restaurants per 100k | 186.9 | 242.5 | Savannah |
| Mountain distance | 73 mi | 205 mi | Macon |
| Coast distance | 157 mi | 11 mi | Savannah |
| Climate-risk composite (FEMA NRI) | 90/100 | 8/100 | Macon |
| Coastal flooding risk percentile (NRI) | 0th | 98th | Macon |
| Drought risk percentile (NRI) | 81th | 37th | Savannah |
| Earthquake risk percentile (NRI) | 45th | 76th | Macon |
What stands out
Macon stronger signals
- Strong outdoor access
- Trail access within 13 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 150 miles
Macon tradeoffs
- No major generic tradeoffs identified
Savannah stronger signals
- Strong food and nightlife amenities score
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Named beach within 9 miles
- Coast access within 11 miles
Savannah tradeoffs
- Higher natural disaster risk
Common questions
Is Macon cheaper than Savannah?
On public benchmarks Macon is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $946/mo in Macon vs $1,266/mo in Savannah; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,146/mo vs $1,445/mo; state income tax is 5.2% vs 5.2%.
Is Macon or Savannah safer?
Macon screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 53/100 for Macon and 53/100 for Savannah (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Macon or Savannah?
School screens show 3/10 for Macon vs 5/10 for Savannah, 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 Macon and Savannah?
Macon: summer highs near 92°F, winter lows near 33°F, disaster-risk band 1/3. Savannah: 91°F / 37°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.
Start City Match