Should I Move To
Valdosta, Georgia is home to about 55,266 people. On cost of living, it lands in the very affordable band — 19% below the national average. The median renter pays around $932 a month against a typical household income of $41,365. Our composite UrbRank Score lands at 56 out of 100 (grade C), putting it at #283 nationally.
UrbRank Score · General
Each dimension scored 0-100 against every other US city.
Based on overall cost of living vs. other US cities.
Temperate summers & winters, moderate precipitation.
Walk Score — how feasible daily errands are on foot.
Unemployment rate plus household income vs. national median.
Air quality index (EPA AQS data).
Share of residents 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
Valdosta's composite cost-of-living index lands at 81 (100 = US average), which puts it in the very affordable band. At $932/mo against $41,365 in median household income, the typical renter spends about 27% of income on housing — right inside the standard 30%-of-income guideline. Median home value sits around $152,100.
Full cost-of-living breakdown →Climate is four-season — summer averages around 91°F, winter averages around 42°F. Precipitation totals about 59 inches a year. Walking covers most daily life if you live in a central neighborhood; a car is helpful for longer trips but not essential. AQI runs about 48 — a "good" reading.
Verdict by lifestyle profile — same data, different priorities.
Valdosta reads as a moderate fit for families. The profile-weighted score is 65/100 — a B-. Its standout dimension is affordability (95/100); the soft spot is job market (16/100).
Valdosta reads as a moderate fit for retirees. The profile-weighted score is 73/100 — a B. Its standout dimension is affordability (95/100); the soft spot is job market (16/100).
Valdosta reads as a moderate fit for remote workers. The profile-weighted score is 73/100 — a B. Its standout dimension is affordability (95/100); the soft spot is job market (16/100).
Valdosta reads as a moderate fit for young professionals. The profile-weighted score is 58/100 — a C. Its standout dimension is affordability (95/100); the soft spot is job market (16/100).
Our overall score for Valdosta is 56/100 — a C, sitting at #283 in the national ranking. It's a weighted average across the seven UrbRank dimensions.
By the composite index, Valdosta sits at 81 — very affordable, 19% below the national average. Median renter pays around $932 a month.
Valdosta runs four-season on the weather. Summer's near 91°F, winter's near 42°F; 59 inches of precipitation annually.
Walk Score: 71/100. Walking covers most daily life if you live in a central neighborhood; a car is helpful for longer trips but not essential.
Roughly 55,266 people live here, with 27% college-educated (bachelor's or higher) among adults 25+ with a median age of 29.
Drop Valdosta into the comparison tool with any other US city and you'll get housing costs, salaries, demographics, and quality-of-life data lined up side by side. Profile-specific leaderboards (families, retirees, remote workers, young professionals) are linked from the navigation.
Every US city is scored 0-100 on seven dimensions using public data from the US Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, FBI Crime Data Explorer, EPA Air Quality System, NOAA NCEI, and Walk Score. Each dimension is a percentile rank against every other city — so a score of 80 means the city is in the top 20% nationally on that dimension.
The overall score is a weighted average. Five lifestyle profiles — general, families, retirees, remote workers, young professionals — weight the dimensions differently to reflect what each cares about. Families get more weight on safety and schools; young professionals get more weight on jobs and walkability; retirees get more weight on climate.
Compare Valdosta with other Georgia cities scored on UrbRank.
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