Columbus, GA, United States

Capital City

With a population of just over 206,922, Columbus is a mid-sized Southern city that offers a mix of industrial heritage and modern amenities, but comes with a heavy dose of bureaucracy and a climate that can be sweltering. The city's textile mills have given way to corporate headquarters like Aflac, but the local government remains a persistent headache, with a 2021 homicide record that highlights the city's struggle with rising crime. While Columbus boasts attractions like the National Infantry Museum and the world's longest urban whitewater course, its steamy summers and bureaucratic hurdles make it best suited for those seeking an affordable cost of living over an exciting urban lifestyle.