Columbus, Georgia, situated 90 miles south of Atlanta, is the county seat of Muscogee County. It is the 2nd largest city in Georgia and is adjacent to the Alabama cities of Auburn and Opelika. Located in the Chattahoochee River Valley, Columbus has plenty to offer outdoor recreation enthusiasts. The city has a warm and steamy climate with afternoon summer temperatures reaching the mid-90s. In the winter months, Columbus sees average nighttime temperatures in the upper 30s. As a resident of Columbus, you will be right on the border of a natural snowline. That means, north of Columbus receives snowfall annually, and south of the city typically receives no snowfall at all.
Georgia residents routinely associate Columbus with Fort Benning, an Army base that spans more than 180,000 acres and is the largest local employer. The cost of living index in Columbus is lower than average in relation to other Georgia cities and compared to the national average. Housing prices are reasonable and Midtown, one of the best places to live in Columbus, is formed by six National Register Historic Districts offering parks, revitalized shopping centers and tree-lined streets. The citizens of Columbus have benefited from the concerted effort to make the downtown Chattahoochee Riverwalk a locals as well as a tourist destination.
Speaking of the Chattahoochee River, Columbus lays claim to the longest urban whitewater rafting course in the world. After you brave the whitewater course, have a go at the Blue Heron Adventure zip line experience. The dual zip line connects two states and reaches speeds up to 40mph. If you prefer to stay on land, one of the best places in Columbus to bike is along the 15 miles of biking trails Riverwalk offers more than 15 miles of biking trails.
Getting around Columbus is a breeze with the Metra Transit System. METRA currently operates 16 buses serving 9 bus routes in the Columbus area, Monday through Saturday, excluding holidays. If you travel for work, a shuttle service to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport operates numerous times per day to accommodate almost any schedule. Delta Air Lines operates several flights per day out of Columbus Airport with routes to and from Atlanta.
With an ample amount of recreational activities, pleasant neighborhoods and southern charm, finding the picture-perfect location in Columbus to put down roots will be effortless. We'll give you a head start as these areas are our picks for the best places to live in the Columbus area. To further customize your list of the best places to live in Columbus, you can stipulate a search range, housing budget, facilities and creature comforts that mean the most to you.