Albany, GA Homes For Rent

Homes for Rent in Albany, GA: What You Need to Know

Albany in southwest Georgia was named after the capital of New York. The city is located on the banks of Flint River.

Job Opportunities 

Albany’s diverse economic base includes big manufacturing companies such as Proctor & Gamble, which manufactures its Bounty Paper Towel and Charmin Toilet Paper brands in the city, MillerCoors Brewery, and Mars Chocolate North America. Other top employers are Phoebe Putney Health System, Dougherty County Board of Education, Thrush Aircraft, and Marine Corps Logistics Base.

A Rich Local History

Col. Nelson Tift of Groton, Connecticut, founded Albany in 1836. It was a thriving cotton market that became a transportation hub with the convergence of rail lines in the area. Albany served as a Confederate food and cotton supplier during the Civil War. In 1961, the Albany Movement, aimed at dismantling desegregation, was formed with mass meetings and protests. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke and marched in Albany in December 1961, and was consequently jailed. The movement, which resulted in the jailing of more than 1,000 African Americans, ended in the summer of 1962.

Things to Do in Albany, GA

The Albany Civil Rights Institute is located in the restored Mount Zion Baptist Church where Martin Luther King Jr. spoke in 1961. The institute educates the public about the civil rights struggles of African Americans through photographs, artifacts, oral histories, and educational exhibits. Music fans love the Ray Charles Plaza along the Flint River. A life-size sculpture of Charles, born in Albany, is displayed on a rotating pedestal. Charles’ music plays at intervals as water flows over the pedestal and spills into a reflecting pool. Charles pioneered soul music by combining R&B, gospel, pop, and country.

Cost of Living 

If you’re dreaming of Southern living, Albany (population: 72,130) might just be right for you. The city’s cost of living rate, food, and housing costs are 9.9%, 13.2%, and 26.5% lower than the national average, respectively. The median gross rent in the city is $721. Georgia implements a progressive income tax rate ranging from 1% to 5.75% and sales tax ranging from 4% to 9%. 

Know Your Neighborhoods

Albany's Riverfront Trail, a paved trail along the Flint River, is one of the perks of living in the city. Locals think their hometown is largely underrated and undervalued. If you’re going to rent, you’ll be part of the majority. In the suburbs, Radium Springs is one of the closest to Albany. Sylvester is farther (20 miles away) but residents rave about their little town for its friendliness and affordability.