Is Valdosta, Georgia A Good Place To Live?

Heather Robbins
by Heather Robbins

Valdosta/Lowndes County has traditionally been a favorite gathering spot for locals and visitors alike. The abundant and lovely soil of this area has tempted people to construct their homes here since the Creek and Seminole Indians, Spanish missionaries, and American pioneers.

Valdosta is a great place to live between the cost of rent and the cost of living. It’s also nearby popular attractions and large cities like Atlanta and Tallahassee, Florida. One major downfall, though, is its crime rate.

Valdosta’s past is inextricably linked to its land. Because of the sandy loam, the city was able to become the inland cotton capital of Sea Island. When the boll weevil decimated cotton production in the early 1900s, other crops such as pecans, peanuts, and tobacco became more popular. It’s a very interesting and great place to live.

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What Is Valdosta Like?

Valdosta is a community built around a network of neighbors, each of whom is honored and respected individually and collectively. Whether you’ve lived here for a long time, are a newbie, or are simply passing through, you’re an essential part of the community.

From 1890 through the late 1920s, Valdosta’s business center proliferated, and most of the city’s significant public buildings were built during this time. The Valdosta Heritage Foundation is devoted to preserving and rehabilitating the city’s historic structures, residences, and neighborhoods.

The Wisenbaker-Roberts House, Valdosta’s oldest known house, is located in the Fairview National Register Historic District, and the Foundation is particularly proud of its work to repair it during 2016. On the National Register of Historic Places, Valdosta has six Historic Districts and two individual listings.

Valdosta Residents

In 2018, the population of Valdosta, GA, was 56.1k, with a median age of 28 and a typical family income of $32,051. Between 2017 and 2018, the population of Valdosta, GA, increased by 0.0678 percent, from 56,036 to 56,074, while the median household income increased by 1.1 percent, from $31,701 to $32,051.

White (Non-Hispanic) (39.6%), White (Hispanic) (2.81%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (51.7%) Asian (Non-Hispanic) (1.88%), and Other (Hispanic) (1.88%) are the top five ethnic groups in Valdosta, GA (1.82 percent ). In addition, 0% of Valdosta households speak a non-English language as their primary language at home, and 97.4% of residents are citizens of the United States.

Is Valdosta A Good Place To Live?

There are several reasons why Valdosta is a great place to live, which is why we’re going to take you through each reason so that you know the best aspects of living in Valdosta.

1. Low Cost Of Rent

In Valdosta, the average rent is $727. Depending on the location and size of the apartment, you can expect to pay as little as $565 or as much as $1,084 a month to rent an apartment in Valdosta. In Valdosta, GA, the average rent for a studio apartment is $565. In Valdosta, GA, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $727.

In comparison to the national average, Fair Market Rent costs in Valdosta are ordinary. This FMR area costs more than 68 percent of the other FMR locations. In Valdosta, the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $709 per month. A two-bedroom property was rented for $694 per month the prior year. This is a year-over-year growth of 2.16 percent.

2. Low Cost Of Living

Valdosta, Georgia, has a typical household income of $29,500 and a median property value of $140,021. The cost of living in Valdosta is around 7.8% lower than the national average. It’s relatively cheap, owing to low home prices. It’s also worth noting that the housing index is the most heavily weighted in the composite index, owing to its prominence in the average consumer’s budget.

However, when compared to other Georgia cities, Valdosta’s cost of living is higher. Housing costs in Valdosta are 20 percent cheaper than the national average, while utility costs are 4 percent cheaper. The cost of transportation, such as bus fares and petrol costs, is 1% less than the national average. The cost of groceries in Valdosta is 1% more than the national average.

3. Great Location

Visitors seeking thrill rides, animal encounters, and outdoor leisure have long been welcomed to this community in South Georgia. The community, known as the “Azalea City,” was founded in 1860 as a railroad halt and is now a favorite stopover for I-75 motorists.

The Crescent At Valdosta Garden Center

The Crescent at Valdosta Garden Center, which was built in 1898 and comprised 23 rooms, has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1980. The 13 columns that depict the colonies are the inspiration for the historic home’s name. Every year, a variety of activities such as flower displays and antique fairs are hosted there. Parties and weddings are ideal on the beautiful grounds.

Wild Adventures Theme Park

People go to the 170-acre Wild Adventures Theme Park to ride thrilling rides, view exotic animals, and see jaw-dropping shows. “US News and World Report” named the enlarged Splash Island Waterpark one of the top 30 in the United States.

Grand Bay Wetland Education Center

At the Grand Bay Wetland Education Center, travel the half-mile boardwalk through wetlands to the 54-foot observation tower. Climbers may observe amazing views of the surrounding landscape, which spans over 2,000 acres, from the summit of the tower.

4. Near Larger Cities

In a southeasterly direction, the distance from Valdosta to Atlantic Beach is 116.99 miles (223.70 kilometers) and 139 miles (223.70 kilometers) by automobile, following the I-10 E route. Thus, if you drive nonstop, the distance between Valdosta and Atlantic Beach is 2 hours 16 minutes.

Tallahassee, Florida’s state capital, is about an hour and a half southwest of Valdosta. As a result, it is home to a number of noteworthy attractions, including the Museum of Florida History, which spans millions of years, as evidenced by a rare mastodon skeleton on exhibit. The museum also looks after Knott House, which was where Abraham Lincoln read the Emancipation Proclamation during the Civil War.

5. Great Healthcare System

82.4 percent of Valdosta residents had health insurance, with 39 percent having employer-sponsored policies, 15.8 percent having Medicaid, 6.96 percent having Medicare, 16.1 percent having non-group policies, and 4.46 percent having military or VA policies. In 2014, Georgians spent $6,587 per capita on personal health care. This is an increase of 5.41 percent over the previous year ($6,249).

Primary care physicians in Lowndes County, Georgia, see an average of 1736 patients each year, up 2.24 percent over the previous year (1698 patients). When compared to dentists, who see 1864 people per year, and mental health specialists, who see 584 people per year, this is a significant difference.

However, when compared to the rest of the state, Telfair County has the highest diabetes prevalence (25.8 percent ). In addition, Candler County has the highest rate of adult obesity in the state (53.7 percent )

Cons Of Living In Valdosta

As with everything, where there is good, there are unfavorable aspects as well. So, therefore, we thought it was only right that we share those aspects with you so that you can make the best choice for you and your family on whether or not to move to Valdosta.

1. High Crime Rate

Valdosta has one of the highest crime rates in America, with a rate of 58 per 1,000 population, when compared to all communities of all sizes – from the tiniest villages to the greatest metropolis. There is a one in 17 probability of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in this city.

More than 94 percent of Georgia’s municipalities have lower crime rates than Valdosta. In Valdosta, the chances of becoming a victim of a violent crime like armed robbery, serious assault, rape, or murder are 1 in 266. This amounts to a rate of four per thousand people.

Property crime accounts for a large portion of the crime in Valdosta. Burglary, larceny over fifty dollars, motor vehicle theft, and arson are among the property crimes recorded for this study. A property crime victim has a one in 19 probability of becoming a victim in Valdosta or a rate of 54 per 1,000 people.

2. Bad Job Market

The unemployment rate in Valdosta is 5.0 percent. The average in the United States is 6.0 percent. The job market in Valdosta has grown by 2.8 percent in the last year. Future job growth is expected to be 37.2 percent over the next ten years, which is greater than the US average of 33.5 percent.

Valdosta, Georgia, has a population of 23.3k people. Retail Trade (3,800 people), Educational Services (3,421 people), and Accommodation & Food Services (2,992 people) are the most populous industries in Valdosta, GA.

However, Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($44,599), Public Administration ($36,917), and Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($36,328) are the highest paying industries.

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Related Questions

Is Valdosta, Georgia, a safe place to live?

Valdosta has 54,000 residents who live there and is a pretty safe place to live, regardless of the crime statistics. The violent crime is 438, and the chance of becoming a victim of property crime only sits at about 4.1%. As long as you don’t become involved with the wrong crowd, you should be fine.

How much money do you need to live comfortably in Georgia?

If you have a family of two adults and two children, then you would need to earn about $75,000 per year combined or at least $6,200 per month to live comfortably in Valdosta.

How cold does it get in Valdosta, GA?

The weather here is extreme as it hits 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer and gets exceptionally muggy. It typically doesn’t fall below 28 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter, although there are times when it does.

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Heather Robbins
Heather Robbins

Heather is a passionate writer who loves anything DIY. Growing up, she learned everything from home repairs to design, and wants to share her tips with you. When she's not writing, she's usually hiking or searching for her next DIY project.

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