Moving to Macon, GA? Here’s What You Need to Know
Macon’s population jumped 5% last year. After decades of decline, people are actually moving TO central Georgia—not just passing through on I-75.
The reason’s simple: A 3-bedroom house costs $165,000 here. In Atlanta? Try $400,000. Same state, same weather, quarter the mortgage.
But cheap housing doesn’t mean much if the city’s dead. So here’s the ground truth about what you’re actually moving to.
Neighborhoods That Matter
InTown Macon Victorian houses. Walking distance to downtown. Prices vary wildly—$89K fixers next to $400K restored beauties. College Street and the blocks around Mercer University are safest bets. Some streets look magazine-ready, others… don’t. Drive before buying.
The farmers market pulls everyone out Saturdays. Young families everywhere. But after dark, know your blocks.
North Macon/Wesleyan Woods Standard suburbia. Good schools draw families. Newer construction, $250K-$500K range. Boring? Maybe. Safe? Definitely. The medical district nearby means doctors and nurses dominate the neighborhood. 15-minute straight shot downtown when you need culture.
Vineville 1950s ranches under massive oaks. $120K-$250K gets you good bones and mature landscaping. The Christmas lights here go viral every December. Mixed crowd—professors, young families, original owners from the ’60s. Best value neighborhood if you’re not scared of original hardwood floors.
Shirley Hills Money lives here. $400K minimum. Country club adjacent. Private school families. If you’ve got it, flaunt it here. Everyone else drives through to look at houses they can’t afford.
East Macon Cheapest entry point. Under $100K houses exist. Historically Black neighborhood with deep roots. Some blocks are gems, others need work. Gentrification conversations starting. Best soul food in the city, hands down. Do your homework street by street.
Real Housing Costs
Median home: $165,000. That’s not a typo.
What that gets you: 3 beds, 2 baths, actual yard. Maybe original hardwood. Probably needs updating but it’s livable.
Renting instead?
- Downtown 1-bedroom: $800-$1,200
- North Macon 2-bedroom apartment: $1,000-$1,500
- Whole house rental: $900 (East Macon) to $2,500 (Shirley Hills)
First month + last month + deposit = move-in reality. Some landlords work with you. Most don’t.
Money Talk: Daily Costs
Groceries hit different here. Family of four spends $150-$200 weekly at Publix. Kroger’s cheaper. Farmers market May-October saves serious cash on produce.
Summer power bills hurt. $250+ when AC runs nonstop. Spring and fall? Beautiful $150. Water/sewer/trash bundles around $80 monthly.
Gas hovers at $3.20. You’ll drive everywhere. No subway, limited buses. Factor that in.
Restaurant test: Nu-Way Weiners (local legend) feeds two for $20. Nice dinner at Dovetail downtown: $80-$100. Not bad for date night.
Schools (The Honest Version)
Bibb County School District is… complicated. Some schools excel. Others don’t. Most families moving here budget for private school just in case.
Public standouts:
- Academy for Classical Education (ACE): Actually competitive with private schools
- Miller Fine Arts Magnet: Tough to get in, worth it if you do
- Howard High: IB program pulls serious students
Private reality:
- Stratford Academy: $12K-$15K yearly
- Mount de Sales: Catholic, $8K-$10K
- First Presbyterian Day: $10K-$13K
Yeah, that’s real money. Factor it in or get very strategic about public school zones.
Mercer University changes everything downtown. Wesleyan College too. College kids keep the city young. Parents visiting pump money into hotels and restaurants. Win-win.
Hospitals and Not Getting Shot
Three main hospitals. All take major insurance:
- Navicent (the big one): Teaching hospital, Level 1 trauma
- Coliseum Medical: Shorter ER waits
- Piedmont Macon: Newest, still building specialties
Crime? Let’s be real. North Macon and Shirley Hills: minimal issues. Downtown: improving but watch yourself after midnight. East Macon: block by block. Some streets perfect, others problematic.
Sheriff publishes crime maps online. Use them.
Actually Fun Stuff to Do
Music Allman Brothers Museum isn’t tourist nonsense—it’s legit. Capricorn Records made Macon music history. Grant’s Lounge has live blues. Hargray Capitol Theatre gets bigger acts.
Outside Ocmulgee River Trail: 11 miles paved. Amerson River Park: mountain biking that Atlanta people drive down for. Lake Tobesofkee: your summer water fix.
Food worth mentioning
- Nu-Way: Same hot dogs since 1916
- H&H: Soul food so good Oprah came here
- Grow: Farm-to-table without the attitude
- Parish: Cocktails that justify the drive from anywhere
Annual stuff Cherry Blossom Festival in March—downtown turns pink and magical. International Cherry Blossom Festival. Over 350,000 Yoshino cherry trees. Bragg Jam in July celebrates local music. State Fair still happens here every fall.
Boring But Necessary Setup
Utilities: Georgia Power online, deposit required. Water Authority demands in-person visit on Second Street (annoying). Cox dominates internet, AT&T Fiber creeping in.
DMV: 30 days to switch your license. Bring documents, $32, patience. Tag office on Eisenhower handles registration.
Voting: Register when you get your license or online at mvp.sos.ga.gov.
Actually Moving Your Stuff
When you’re ready to pull the trigger, you’ll need movers who know Macon. Most people start with a search for movers near me to compare options and get real quotes. Good companies know which downtown streets can’t handle big trucks. They know to book early during university move-in weeks.
Local moves run $100-$150/hour for a crew. Coming from out of state? Price varies wildly. Get multiple quotes. Summer books fast—plan accordingly.
It’s not Atlanta. Thank god.
It’s not perfect either. Downtown still has empty buildings. Summers are brutal humid. Some neighborhoods need work.
But $165,000 median home prices? Actual culture? Restaurants where you can get a table? Music history everywhere? Neighbors who wave from porches?
That combination barely exists anymore.
Most people visit once, see the surface issues, drive on. The ones who dig deeper—who have coffee at Ocmulgee Coffee, who walk through a restored Victorian on College Street, who catch a show at the Cox Capitol—they get it.
Macon’s not selling a fantasy. It’s offering reality at a price you can afford.
Ready to explore? Weekend visits tell you more than any guide. Drive neighborhoods, eat downtown, walk the riverfront. See if Macon fits. Most newcomers planned to stay two years. That was five years ago.