COST OF LIVING
In the 1st quarter of 2000 the current cost of living in Augusta was 96.8 percent of the national average, which ranks the area as 6th among 12 Georgia cities.

SHOPPING & DINING
Shopping is very convenient in Augusta. Most of the retail centers, grocery stores, and specialty shops are within a short driving distance. There are also endless dining opportunities, with options ranging from elegant to home style. With more than 500 eating establishments in the city, there is a restaurant sure to meet every budget, appetite or occasion. The Augusta Mall ranks as the second largest mall outside of Atlanta, with department stores such as: Macy's, Rich's, Dillard's, JC Penney, and Sears. The mall has a total of 147 shops, services and restaurants.

CHURCHES
Regardless of religion, there are numerous places of worship. Over 500 churches and synagogues minister to a wide range of denominations in the Augusta Area.

LIBRARY SERVICES
The Augusta and Columbia County libraries house a collection of more than 430,000 volumes and public access to over 30 computers.

HEALTH CARE
The health and well being of Augusta-Aiken MSA's 468,710 residents are met through the area's outstanding health-care system. This includes the nationally recognized Medical College of Georgia, the state's health science university. The Medical College of Georgia is considered one of the top ten schools in the country for general practitioners. Augusta offers one of the South's premiere medical communities, with medical centers such as: University Hospital, St. Joseph's Hospital, Doctor's Hospital, VA Medical Center and Eisenhower Medical Center. Over 25,000 people are employed in the health care industry, with 1,625 physicians and 219 dentists. The area also has various emergency care clinics, nursing homes, assisted living, sports medicine clinics, physical therapy services, trauma centers, Alzheimer's Association and hospice programs which provide additional medical services.

CLIMATE
Annual average temperature 65.1º
Average annual Rainfall 47.1"
Average annual Snowfall: 0
Average heating degree-days per year 2,707
Average cooling degree-days per year 1,854
Average clear days per year 111