nd atmosphere, moderately priced accommodations, and unique historic downtown district. Savannah is attracting retirees, too, who are usually looking for alternatives to an increasingly crowded Florida. A relatively inexpensive town in which to live and do business, the cost of living index is slightly below average. Housing can be affordable, with the median house/condo value at $108,100 in 2005. Two-thirds of the city is made up of single-family homes. The median monthly housing costs for mortgaged owners was $1,052, while rent averaged $717 per month.

Savannah’s waterfront remains open to development. Located near the central business and historic districts is a large tract of land. Developers have already located a

Old Southern charm and hospitality are the trademarks of Savannah, a mid-sized city in Georgia. Thanks to its warm climate and affordability, many people now relocating to Savannah are usually of retirement age.

Savannah borders South Carolina where the Savannah River and the Atlantic Ocean become natural boundaries. Encompassing 75 miles of land, the citizenry has been dwindling in recent years. The population was estimated at 128,453 residents in 2005, a 2.3% decrease since the 2000 U.S. Census. During the 1990s, the city lost another 4.7% of its people. Savannah is not as densely populated as other big cities in Georgia. One of the largest African American communities in the state is found here, with over 60% of the city’s population. White Non-Hispanic residents account for another 34%. According to U.S. Census statistics, the median age of residents was 32 years, 4.4 years younger than the U.S. average. In the city, families made up 59% of city homes that averaged 2.4 occupants.

The take home pay of Savannah’s workers is very low. Both median household and family income averages were over $15,000 below the national average. The annual household income was $30,887, compared with the U.S. average of $46,242. A good many retirees relocating to Savannah benefit from Social Security, with about 30% of city households already drawing that income. Savannah boasts low unemployment rates, as job growth is small but steady with a 3.1% increase in 2005, primarily in the service sector. As of 2004, the highest number of jobs for women was in health care, at 19% of the female job force. Construction was top of the list for men making up 13% of their jobs. As a right-to-work state, the average take home pay is low. The recent focus of job creation has been in hospitality, port services, tourism and convention, and information technology. Poverty is high with 22.8% of Savannah’s people considered poor by government estimations.

Manufacturing is the largest part of Savannah’s economy with plants like Gulfstream Aerospace, International Paper, and Georgia Pacific. With the city’s history and charm, tourism has grown rapidly with roughly six million visitors annually, adding more than $1.5 billion to the economy. Savannah also supports a military community with Hunter Army Airfield located within city limits. The army complex is part of an infantry division located at Fort Stewart, 40 miles away. Together, the installations find 22,000 soldiers and 3,500 civilians on government payrolls. With its seaports and cargo hubs, the Port of Savannah is the fifth largest container port in the country. Designated a Foreign Trade Zone, the port is a major distribution point.

The French revere Savannah, dubbing it "The most beautiful city in North America," in Paris's famed Le Monde newspaper. People relocating to Savannah flock here to experience the city’s mild climate, old world charm and atmosphere, moderately priced accommodations, and unique historic downtown district. Savannah is attracting retirees, too, who are usually looking for alternatives to an increasingly crowded Florida. A relatively inexpensive town in which to live and do business, the cost of living index is slightly below average. Housing can be affordable, with the median house/condo value at $108,100 in 2005. Two-thirds of the city is made up of single-family homes. The median monthly housing costs for mortgaged owners was $1,052, while rent averaged $717 per month.

Savannah’s waterfront remains open to development. Located near the central business and historic districts is a large tract of land. Developers have already located a l

city’s population. White Non-Hispanic residents account for another 34%. According to U.S. Census statistics, the median age of residents was 32 years, 4.4 years younger than the U.S. average. In the city, families made up 59% of city homes that averaged 2.4 occupants.

The take home pay of Savannah’s workers is very low. Both median household and family income averages were over $15,000 below the national average. The annual household income was $30,887, compared with the U.S. average of $46,242. A good many retirees relocating to Savannah benefit from Social Security, with about 30% of city households already drawing that income. Savannah boasts low unemployment rates, as job growth is small but steady with a 3.1% increase in 2005, primarily in the service sector. As of 2004, the highest number of jobs for women was in health care, at 19% of the female job force. Construction was top of the list for men making up 13% of their jobs. As a right-to-work state, the average take home pay is low. The recent focus of job creation has been in hospitality, port services, tourism and convention, and information technology. Poverty is high with 22.8% of Savannah’s people considered poor by government estimations.

Manufacturing is the largest part of Savannah’s economy with plants like Gulfstream Aerospace, International Paper, and Georgia Pacific. With the city’s history and charm, tourism has grown rapidly with roughly six million visitors annually, adding more than $1.5 billion to the economy. Savannah also supports a military community with Hunter Army Airfield located within city limits. The army complex is part of an infantry division located at Fort Stewart, 40 miles away. Together, the installations find 22,000 soldiers and 3,500 civilians on government payrolls. With its seaports and cargo hubs, the Port of Savannah is the fifth largest container port in the country. Designated a Foreign Trade Zone, the port is a major distribution point.

The French revere Savannah, dubbing it "The most beautiful city in North America," in Paris's famed Le Monde newspaper. People relocating to Savannah flock here to experience the city’s mild climate, old world charm and atmosphere, moderately priced accommodations, and unique historic downtown district. Savannah is attracting retirees, too, who are usually looking for alternatives to an increasingly crowded Florida. A relatively inexpensive town in which to live and do business, the cost of living index is slightly below average. Housing can be affordable, with the median house/condo value at $108,100 in 2005. Two-thirds of the city is made up of single-family homes. The median monthly housing costs for mortgaged owners was $1,052, while rent averaged $717 per month.

Savannah’s waterfront remains open to development. Located near the central business and historic districts is a large tract of land. Developers have already located a

ease in 2005, primarily in the service sector. As of 2004, the highest number of jobs for women was in health care, at 19% of the female job force. Construction was top of the list for men making up 13% of their jobs. As a right-to-work state, the average take home pay is low. The recent focus of job creation has been in hospitality, port services, tourism and convention, and information technology. Poverty is high with 22.8% of Savannah’s people considered poor by government estimations.

Manufacturing is the largest part of Savannah’s economy with plants like Gulfstream Aerospace, International Paper, and Georgia Pacific. With the city’s history and charm, tourism has grown rapidly with roughly six million visitors annually, adding more than $1.5 billion to the economy. Savannah also supports a military community with Hunter Army Airfield located within city limits. The army complex is part of an infantry division located at Fort Stewart, 40 miles away. Together, the installations find 22,000 soldiers and 3,500 civilians on government payrolls. With its seaports and cargo hubs, the Port of Savannah is the fifth largest container port in the country. Designated a Foreign Trade Zone, the port is a major distribution point.

The French revere Savannah, dubbing it "The most beautiful city in North America," in Paris's famed Le Monde newspaper. People relocating to Savannah flock here to experience the city’s mild climate, old world charm and atmosphere, moderately priced accommodations, and unique historic downtown district. Savannah is attracting retirees, too, who are usually looking for alternatives to an increasingly crowded Florida. A relatively inexpensive town in which to live and do business, the cost of living index is slightly below average. Housing can be affordable, with the median house/condo value at $108,100 in 2005. Two-thirds of the city is made up of single-family homes. The median monthly housing costs for mortgaged owners was $1,052, while rent averaged $717 per month.

Savannah’s waterfront remains open to development. Located near the central business and historic districts is a large tract of land. Developers have already located a

ally, adding more than $1.5 billion to the economy. Savannah also supports a military community with Hunter Army Airfield located within city limits. The army complex is part of an infantry division located at Fort Stewart, 40 miles away. Together, the installations find 22,000 soldiers and 3,500 civilians on government payrolls. With its seaports and cargo hubs, the Port of Savannah is the fifth largest container port in the country. Designated a Foreign Trade Zone, the port is a major distribution point.

The French revere Savannah, dubbing it "The most beautiful city in North America," in Paris's famed Le Monde newspaper. People relocating to Savannah flock here to experience the city’s mild climate, old world charm and atmosphere, moderately priced accommodations, and unique historic downtown district. Savannah is attracting retirees, too, who are usually looking for alternatives to an increasingly crowded Florida. A relatively inexpensive town in which to live and do business, the cost of living index is slightly below average. Housing can be affordable, with the median house/condo value at $108,100 in 2005. Two-thirds of the city is made up of single-family homes. The median monthly housing costs for mortgaged owners was $1,052, while rent averaged $717 per month.

Savannah’s waterfront remains open to development. Located near the central business and historic districts is a large tract of land. Developers have already located a

nd atmosphere, moderately priced accommodations, and unique historic downtown district. Savannah is attracting retirees, too, who are usually looking for alternatives to an increasingly crowded Florida. A relatively inexpensive town in which to live and do business, the cost of living index is slightly below average. Housing can be affordable, with the median house/condo value at $108,100 in 2005. Two-thirds of the city is made up of single-family homes. The median monthly housing costs for mortgaged owners was $1,052, while rent averaged $717 per month.

Savannah’s waterfront remains open to development. Located near the central business and historic districts is a large tract of land. Developers have already located a large convention center and resort here. Serious crimes like murder have traditionally been high in Savannah. However, the city had seen a decline is criminal activity is recent years. The FBI Crime Index report for Savannah in 2004 showed a number nearly double the national crime rate. Hot and humid describe some days in Savannah, but frequent afternoon showers in summer help beat the heat. With a semitropical climate, the city stays warm. Historically, there are seven months of the year when the average temperature is 70 degrees or higher. July averages 81.2 degrees, while January is 49.2. The average annual rainfall is 49 inches. Savannah-area historical tornado activity is significantly below Georgia state average. It is 39% smaller than the overall U.S. average.