One of the fastest growing metros in the nation, Atlanta added 734,000 people since 2010, for a population of about 6 million today, according to the US Census. Atlanta Regional Commission forecasts that the metro area will add another 2.9 million people and 1.2 million jobs by 2050.
Newcomers are attracted to Atlanta for a variety of reasons, including its dynamic job market, really good weather, low cost of living, or amazing food scene. The city is an up and coming tech hub, and 15 Fortune 500 companies, including Coca Cola and Home Depot, are headquartered here.
The median home value in the metro area stands at $247,000, with the median household income at $71,741, according to US Census. This translates to an approximate home price to income ratio of under 3, indicating a relatively low cost of living. The same ratio in Charleston, South Carolina, stands at 4.85, and in New Orleans, Louisiana, is at 6.31, so Atlanta is more affordable than two other popular Southern cities. Add nice weather almost all year round and delicious Southern cuisine to the equation, and it’s easy to see why Atlanta sees plenty of newcomers and why its residents are more than happy to be living there.
Whether you’re planning to relocate to Atlanta, you’re a new transplant, or a seasoned resident, one service you might need is self storage. The street rate for a 10×10 self storage unit in Atlanta hovers around $100 per month, and there are more than 80 facilities in the area. Here’s why self storage is a good idea for Atlanta residents:
1. An extra helping hand while moving
You might be moving locally, relocating to Atlanta from another part of the country, or leaving the city temporarily. A self storage unit will make your life easier in all those situations. Store – or ship, if it’s a long-distance move – the belongings you already packed in a unit close to your new home. This streamlines the process and makes moving day less complicated. Suppose you’re leaving the city for a few months but planning to return. In that case, it’s a lot cheaper to put your belongings in storage than it is to continue paying rent on behalf of your sofa and mattress.
2. Going home during vacations made easier for college students
Atlanta is home to several large universities, including Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Emory University. Tens of thousands of students are enrolled in these and other colleges and universities in Atlanta. When summer vacation starts, students are better off renting a storage unit rather than taking home all the belongings from their dorm room.
3. Helps you keep your sports equipment safe
Atlanta has a mild climate, where you can be outdoors, biking, hiking, golfing, and so on, virtually all year round. Fortunately for the city’s residents, there are plenty of parks in the city, and national parks nearby, where they can indulge in their favorite outdoor activities.
Piedmont Park and Atlanta Beltline Trail are urban spaces where people can go hiking, biking, skateboarding, take their kids to the playground, and so on. There are more than 21 golf courses in Atlanta—and another 50 in the metro area—so it’s safe to say that golf is a very popular activity here.
National parks such as the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, or the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area, are located near Atlanta and provide opportunities for all sorts of activities, including camping, fishing, rock climbing, mountain biking, whitewater rafting, and so on.
Most of these fun things involve equipment, and people don’t usually have enough space to store it at home properly. A self storage unit allows you to keep it safe and easily accessible while also keeping your home and garage clutter-free.
4. Protect fragile items that could be damaged by environmental factors
If you’re a collector of art, antiques, old books, and other delicate items, then you’re all too familiar with the reverse of Atlanta’s mostly nice weather—the dreaded humidity. Heat, humidity, and exposure to sunlight are environmental factors that damage the delicate items mentioned above. One solution to protect your treasures and reclaim some space in your home is by renting a climate-controlled storage unit. These units keep constant humidity and temperature throughout the year, constituting the ideal place for fragile items.
5. Businesses can benefit from affordable storage space
Atlanta is an economically dynamic place, with plenty of small and medium-sized businesses and with tens of thousands of self-employed people. For all these categories of economic agents, storage space can be an issue. Whether you’re an accountant working out of a small office or your own home or a landscaping business with all sorts of tools and equipment, a self storage unit is an affordable, accessible way to solve your space-related problems.
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