RETAIL SALES

The current cost of living in Augusta is 91.8 percent of the national average, which ranks the area as 5th among 12 Georgia cities. According to “Expansion Magazine” (July 2000 issue) Augusta is considered to have one of the lowest housing prices with a home market value of $104,600 for a nice eight-room, four-bedroom, 2,200 square foot house in a middle class community.

The area is also considered conducive to financial stability. According to a report complied by Minneapolis-based ReliaStar Financial Corp., Augusta-Aiken MSA is ranked 72nd on its list of 125 best cities to earn and save money.

Source: Woods & Poole 2000