or higher. But among people 16 to 19 years old, a very high drop out rate of 16% was revealed in 2005. Government statistics reveal 23% of the city’s people lived in poverty, including 29.4% of African-American residents. One reason why more people aren’t relocating to Augusta is a stagnant job base that hasn’t grown in the five years since 2A place where winning golfers get green jackets, Augusta, Georgia has a long history from the American Revolution to racial segregation. Anyone relocating to Augusta will see a mid-sized Southern city that has undergone some changes in recent years.

Augusta is located about halfway up the Savannah River where navigable waters end. The city expanded in 1996 after joining Richmond County to form a single government known as Augusta-Richmond County. However, the consolidated community remains to be called Augusta. Bordering South Carolina, Augusta is the second largest city in the state. In the five years since the 2000 census, the estimated population declined 2.3% to 190,782 people. With over 300 miles of land, city residents now have plenty of elbow room. The population density is significantly below average for cities with just 648 residents per square mile. According to U.S. Census figures in 2005, the average age of residents was 33.8 years, with 53% of the population claiming African American heritage. Another 41.3% of the people were White non-Hispanic. The average household size was 2.5 people. Families made up 66% of the households, 40% married couples.

Slightly below average is the percentage of people over 25 who have graduated from high school. Census statistics show 78% made it through high school, while nearly 19% had a bachelor’s degree or higher. But among people 16 to 19 years old, a very high drop out rate of 16% was revealed in 2005. Government statistics reveal 23% of the city’s people lived in poverty, including 29.4% of African-American residents. One reason why more people aren’t relocating to Augusta is a stagnant job base that hasn’t grown in the five years since 20

ty expanded in 1996 after joining Richmond County to form a single government known as Augusta-Richmond County. However, the consolidated community remains to be called Augusta. Bordering South Carolina, Augusta is the second largest city in the state. In the five years since the 2000 census, the estimated population declined 2.3% to 190,782 people. With over 300 miles of land, city residents now have plenty of elbow room. The population density is significantly below average for cities with just 648 residents per square mile. According to U.S. Census figures in 2005, the average age of residents was 33.8 years, with 53% of the population claiming African American heritage. Another 41.3% of the people were White non-Hispanic. The average household size was 2.5 people. Families made up 66% of the households, 40% married couples.

Slightly below average is the percentage of people over 25 who have graduated from high school. Census statistics show 78% made it through high school, while nearly 19% had a bachelor’s degree or higher. But among people 16 to 19 years old, a very high drop out rate of 16% was revealed in 2005. Government statistics reveal 23% of the city’s people lived in poverty, including 29.4% of African-American residents. One reason why more people aren’t relocating to Augusta is a stagnant job base that hasn’t grown in the five years since 2

ople. With over 300 miles of land, city residents now have plenty of elbow room. The population density is significantly below average for cities with just 648 residents per square mile. According to U.S. Census figures in 2005, the average age of residents was 33.8 years, with 53% of the population claiming African American heritage. Another 41.3% of the people were White non-Hispanic. The average household size was 2.5 people. Families made up 66% of the households, 40% married couples.

Slightly below average is the percentage of people over 25 who have graduated from high school. Census statistics show 78% made it through high school, while nearly 19% had a bachelor’s degree or higher. But among people 16 to 19 years old, a very high drop out rate of 16% was revealed in 2005. Government statistics reveal 23% of the city’s people lived in poverty, including 29.4% of African-American residents. One reason why more people aren’t relocating to Augusta is a stagnant job base that hasn’t grown in the five years since 2

1.3% of the people were White non-Hispanic. The average household size was 2.5 people. Families made up 66% of the households, 40% married couples.

Slightly below average is the percentage of people over 25 who have graduated from high school. Census statistics show 78% made it through high school, while nearly 19% had a bachelor’s degree or higher. But among people 16 to 19 years old, a very high drop out rate of 16% was revealed in 2005. Government statistics reveal 23% of the city’s people lived in poverty, including 29.4% of African-American residents. One reason why more people aren’t relocating to Augusta is a stagnant job base that hasn’t grown in the five years since 2

or higher. But among people 16 to 19 years old, a very high drop out rate of 16% was revealed in 2005. Government statistics reveal 23% of the city’s people lived in poverty, including 29.4% of African-American residents. One reason why more people aren’t relocating to Augusta is a stagnant job base that hasn’t grown in the five years since 2000. Almost a quarter of all city jobs for women were health care related. The top job sector for men was construction, at 11% of the workforce. In the Augusta area, the largest employers include a Department of Energy nuclear facility, a military installation including Fort Gordon, and the Medical College of Georgia. The median income of households for Augusta for 2005 was $37,231, about $9,000 below the national average. At 19.3 minutes, Augusta residents had a commute time that was six minutes shorter than the national average.

Well below the national average are Augusta’s home values. In 2005, the median house/condo value was $92,200, compared with the U.S. average of $167,500. Home values had grown less than two percent since 2004. Over 21% of city housing units have been built since 1990. About 77% of the population live in single-family or mobile homes. The median monthly housing costs for mortgaged owners was $940 in 2005, while renters were paying $621 for their living expenses each month. The Cost of Living Index ranks much lower in Augusta at 73.3 when compared with the national rate of 99.52. According Sperling’s Best Places, the average utility costs are over $1,000 less per year than the rest of the country, while consumer household expenditures was 40% lower. In fact, everything from education, entertainment, transportation, and retail expen