Want to live and work in Savannah?

Savannah has an African American majority, at around 53% of the population, with non-Hispanic whites representing about 38% and Hispanics growing toward 7%. The African American heritage is deep and historically tied to the Gullah-Geechee culture, descendants of enslaved Africans who preserved a creole language, cuisine, and distinct traditions on the sea islands of Georgia and South Carolina.

SCAD attracts students from more than 100 countries, giving downtown an unexpectedly cosmopolitan layer for a city of this size in the South. There is a modest Asian community (Vietnamese, Korean, Indian), a small Brazilian presence linked to Gulfstream and the port, and a Hispanic community concentrated in neighborhoods such as Garden City and parts of Pooler.

English is the dominant language, with a distinct coastal Southern accent. Spanish is functional in commerce and construction. Some communities on the Sea Islands (Sapelo, Pin Point) still preserve Geechee as a family language. Religiously, Savannah is part of the Bible Belt, but with a stronger Catholic presence than is typical of inland Georgia, a legacy of Irish immigrant settlement. The Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist is one of the city's landmarks.

Savannah's real estate market is a patchwork. The Historic District contains antebellum mansions, nineteenth-century townhouses, and apartments in restored buildings, priced high by state standards. Starland District is the creative favorite, with renovated homes and craft breweries. Ardsley Park, designed in the 1910s, has large family homes on tree-lined streets and is among the most sought-after neighborhoods. Midtown and Habersham Village serve professionals and families.

For more affordable options, Southside has newer condominiums and family homes at lower price points, with schools of varying quality. Tybee Island, 30 minutes out, is beach living, offering expensive oceanfront homes and more affordable rental cottages. Wilmington Island and Skidaway Island are suburban, with nautical clubs. Pooler, to the west near the airport and the Gulfstream plant, has become a rapidly expanding suburb of new family homes.

Rentals follow standard American credit screening, with one to two months' security deposit typical. In the Historic District, many properties operate as short-term rentals through platforms like Airbnb due to tourism demand, which reduces long-term rental supply and pushes prices up. Property taxes are moderate, with a homestead exemption available to residents. Hurricane and flood insurance factor into the budget for properties near water.

Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) is a private institution founded in 1978 that has become a global reference in graphic design, animation, fashion, film, and architecture. It operates campuses in Savannah, Atlanta, Hong Kong, and Lacoste, France, and draws students from more than 100 countries. Tuition is high, but merit scholarships are available.

Savannah State University is a historically Black public university founded in 1890, with strong programs in marine sciences and biology. Georgia Southern University operates the Armstrong Campus (formerly Armstrong State) in Savannah, offering programs in health sciences and education. Savannah Technical College provides vocational training and has a formal partnership with Gulfstream for aeronautical mechanics programs.

At the K-12 level, the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System operates schools with varying performance. Magnet schools such as Savannah Arts Academy, Jenkins High, and Woodville-Tompkins Technical have strong reputations. Private options include Savannah Country Day School (secular) and Saint Vincent's Academy (Catholic). For immigrant families, the public school system is free and operates ESOL programs serving students without fluent English.

Safety in Savannah varies by neighborhood and time of day. The Historic District is considered safe during the day, with heavy tourist foot traffic and visible patrols. At night, on darker side streets and around the bars of River Street, extra attention to personal belongings is warranted. Ardsley Park, Habersham Village, Wilmington Island, Tybee Island, and Pooler are calm, low-crime neighborhoods.

Areas to the west of downtown (West Savannah, parts of Cuyler-Brownsville) and to the south, in neighborhoods such as Yamacraw Village, record higher rates of violent and property crime. As with any mid-sized American city, researching a specific block before signing a lease is advisable. The Savannah Police Department publishes crime maps and maintains a dedicated unit for the tourist district.

The most serious natural risk is a hurricane. Savannah has faced mandatory evacuation orders multiple times in recent years (Matthew in 2016, Irma in 2017, Dorian in 2019). Older homes in the Historic District were built to withstand storms, but coastal zones (Tybee Island, Wilmington Island) are the first to be evacuated. Hurricane and flood insurance is a budget line item for properties near water, and a household evacuation plan is essential from June through November.

Savannah's summer is long and oppressive. From May through September, highs range between 31 and 34 degrees Celsius, with high humidity and afternoon thunderstorms. The Atlantic breeze provides some relief near the coast, but central air conditioning is an essential feature of any residence.

Winter is mild and brief. From December through February, highs range between 14 and 18 degrees Celsius and lows approach 4 degrees, with occasional frost and extremely rare snowfall. Central heating is useful, but medium-weight coats handle most days of the season.

Spring and fall are the seasons favored by residents and visitors alike. Spring brings intense blooming across the historic squares, and fall moderates the heat without bringing cold. Hurricane season weighs on the city from August through October, requiring evacuation planning and adequate insurance coverage.

The Historic District, roughly one square kilometer, contains 22 squares including Forsyth Square (with its iconic fountain), Chippewa Square (where Forrest Gump was filmed), and Monterey Square (home to the Mercer-Williams House from Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil). River Street, paved in cobblestone, runs along the Savannah River with restaurants, bars, and riverboat tours.

The Telfair Museums (comprising Telfair Academy, Owens-Thomas House, and Jepson Center) span art from the antebellum South to contemporary works. The SCAD Museum of Art reflects the influence of the Savannah College of Art and Design, which occupies more than 90 buildings throughout the city. The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist stands as one of the South's most prominent religious landmarks.

Bonaventure Cemetery, draped in Spanish moss-covered oaks, draws as many visitors as any museum. Tybee Island, 30 minutes away, offers beaches and Georgia's oldest lighthouse. Life in Savannah slows in the humid summer heat, with high mosquito activity, and reaches a festive peak on St. Patrick's Day, the second largest celebration in the country after New York City.