THE LOCAL PHONE-NUMBER GUIDE
Regional guides
The 762 area code, explained
Where 762 is used, why it shares Georgia’s 706 region, how to dial, and what caller ID can verify. Includes the CSRA’s South Carolina code pair.
Read the guideTHE COMPLETE GUIDE DIRECTORY
Find your way around the CSRA.
Every practical guide from The CSRA Brief, gathered in one place. Search by topic or choose a category to find the answer you need.
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58 of 58 guides
GETTING STARTED
Regional guides
Renting in the CSRA, town by town
What rent costs in Augusta, Evans, Grovetown, Martinez, North Augusta, and Aiken in October 2026, by bedroom count and price band, with an interactive comparison, move-in budget calculator, local photography and touring checklist.
Read the guideGETTING STARTED
Regional guides
TRICARE dental near Fort Gordon, explained
Compare TDP premiums and cost shares, search a dated local dentist directory, and use the call checklist to confirm your next appointment.
Read the guideGETTING STARTED
Regional guides
CSRA school calendars & official school results
Actual 2026-2027 district calendars, PDF downloads, a family date planner, break comparisons and official state school scores for Columbia, Richmond and Aiken counties.
Read the guideMILITARY SPOUSE CAREERS
Regional guides
Military spouse jobs near Fort Gordon
Official career resources, local employer links, current federal résumé guidance and practical tools to plan work around your family.
Read the guideGETTING STARTED
Start here
CSRA help directory: food, bills, rent, and housing
Find food, utility assistance, rent referrals, legal aid and housing resources by county and need, with click-to-call contacts and official sources.
Read the guideSTART HERE
Start here
The newcomer's guide to the CSRA
What to set up, what things cost, and how the region fits together. Written by someone who moved here recently and had to figure it out.
Read the guidePCS, HOUSING, GATES & LOCAL LIFE
Fort Gordon
The Ultimate Fort Gordon Guide (2026)
The complete local reference for soldiers, military families, contractors, retirees, and PCS movers, covering gates, housing, schools, healthcare, taxes, jobs, and daily life.
Read the guideTHE LOCAL HOSPITAL, EXPLAINED
Regional guides
Wellstar Hospital in Grovetown: The Complete Local Guide (2026)
A sourced guide to Wellstar Columbia County Medical Center in Grovetown: directions, emergency care, services, visiting, insurance, billing and phone numbers.
Read the guideLIVING HERE & GETTING SETTLED
Towns & communities
The Complete Grovetown Guide (2026)
Address checks, schools, healthcare, parks, an interactive local map, and a saveable moving checklist for life in Grovetown.
Read the guideTHE NEIGHBORHOOD COMPANION
Towns & communities
Grovetown Neighborhoods: Areas, Commutes & Daily Life
Compare six residential areas and communities with a map, shortlist, commute planner, and the checks to make before choosing a home.
Read the guideTHE VERDICT GUIDE
Towns & communities
Grovetown GA: The Honest Pros and Cons (2026)
Should you move to Grovetown? The verdict-style companion to the Grovetown guide: newer homes, Columbia County schools, and short commutes weighed against the property tax bill, growth pains, and HOAs. Every claim sourced and dated.
Read the guideTHE SCHOOLS EXPLAINER
Towns & communities
Augusta GA Schools: The Districts, Explained for Newcomers (2026)
The Richmond County, Columbia County, and Aiken County school systems side by side: which towns feed which, how magnets and school choice work, on-post schools at Fort Gordon, and the private school options. No rankings, just the mechanics.
Read the guideCITY GUIDE: NEIGHBORHOODS, SCHOOLS & COMMUTE
Towns & communities
The Augusta Guide (2026)
The complete 2026 reference for living in the city proper: gate commutes, Richmond County schools and magnet programs, neighborhoods, the medical district, housing costs, and Masters week.
Read the guideTHE VERDICT GUIDE
Towns & communities
Living in Augusta GA: The Honest Pros and Cons (2026)
Should you move to Augusta? The verdict-style companion to the Augusta guide: affordable homes, Fort Gordon and the medical district, Georgia's 2026 tax picture weighed against the crime numbers, the school split, and Masters week. Every claim sourced and dated.
Read the guideTHE FREE GUIDE
Things to do
Free Things to Do in Augusta GA: 23 Spots That Cost Nothing
23 verified free things to do in Augusta, Georgia: the riverwalk, the swamp boardwalk, free museums, free parks with kids, and the monthly First Friday street party. Organized by weekend, kids, and rainy days.
Read the guideTHE WEEKEND GUIDE
Things to do
Day Trips From Augusta GA: 5 Getaways & Itineraries
Five getaways with real photos, drive-time ranges, practical itineraries, ticket and parking links, and a trip finder. Includes an honest overnight recommendation for Asheville.
Read the guideTHE SEASONAL GUIDE
Things to do
Fall Foliage Near Augusta GA: Where to See Color Within 3 Hours
Where to see fall color within 3 hours of Augusta, Georgia: Table Rock and Caesars Head in SC, Tallulah Gorge and Black Rock Mountain, Helen and Brasstown Bald, plus Clarks Hill Lake close to home. 2026 peak timing, fees, and scenic drives, all verified.
Read the guideTHE TEEN GUIDE
Regional guides
Teen Activities in Augusta GA: What There Is to Do for Teenagers in the CSRA
Find teen activities by interest and cost: 12 finder picks, local photos, official program links, registration and pickup notes, free arts, skating, libraries and volunteering.
Read the guideTHE AIKEN GUIDE
Regional guides
Things to Do in Aiken SC: Gardens, Horse Country, Downtown and Day Trips
Things to do in Aiken, South Carolina: Hopelands Gardens, Hitchcock Woods, the Aiken Training Track and Steeplechase, The Alley downtown, free museums, Aiken State Park, and food worth the drive, with verified prices.
Read the guideTHE NORTH AUGUSTA EVENTS GUIDE
Regional guides
North Augusta Events: Festivals, GreenJackets, Peach Jam and the Jubilee
Events in North Augusta SC: GreenJackets baseball at SRP Park, the Nike Peach Jam, Colonial Times, the Jack-O-Lantern Jubilee, Third Thursdays, Music in the Park, the Christmas parade, and how to submit your event.
Read the guideTHE STORM GUIDE
Start here
Does Augusta GA Get Hurricanes? Storms, Explained
The honest answer for newcomers: direct hits are rare, but inland damage is real. What Helene did to Augusta in September 2024, how storms stay dangerous 140 miles inland, tornado basics, and a practical prep list.
Read the guideSMALL-TOWN GUIDE: COMMUTE, SCHOOLS & OLIVER HARDY
Towns & communities
The Harlem Guide (2026)
Oliver Hardy's hometown in western Columbia County: the Fort Gordon commute, Columbia County schools, housing costs, the Oliver Hardy Festival, and small-town daily life.
Read the guideSUBURBAN GUIDE: COMMUTE, SCHOOLS & RETAIL
Towns & communities
The Evans Guide (2026)
Columbia County's commercial and civic center: the Fort Gordon commute, Columbia County schools, housing costs, the Lady A Pavilion, and the performing arts center.
Read the guideSUBURBAN GUIDE: PARKS, SCHOOLS & COMMUTE
Towns & communities
The Martinez Guide (2026)
Columbia County's established suburb: schools, housing costs, the commute toward downtown Augusta, Savannah Rapids Park, and county services.
Read the guideCOMPARING THE OPTIONS
Start here
Where to live: the CSRA town by town
Grovetown, Evans, Martinez, Harlem, Augusta, North Augusta, and Aiken. What each one is actually like, and who each one suits.
Read the guideBY LIFESTYLE
Towns & communities
Best neighborhoods in Augusta, GA
Augusta's real neighborhoods organized by who each one suits: families, young professionals, retirees, and budget buyers. Verified neighborhoods, sourced prices, commute estimates, and honest safety context.
Read the guideDOWNTOWN, MID-TRANSFORMATION
Regional guides
Downtown Augusta, GA
Downtown Augusta in 2026, honestly: the $42M Broad Street rebuild, the $250M new arena, The Conroy hotel, the Riverwalk, museums, food, parking, and what residents are arguing about, every project sourced and dated.
Read the guideTHE SAFETY GUIDE
Towns & communities
Is Augusta, GA safe?
An honest look at crime in the CSRA: what FBI and GBI data say, the trend line, violent vs property crime, county-by-county comparisons, and how to check your own street.
Read the guideTHE SAFETY GUIDE
Towns & communities
Is Grovetown, GA safe?
An honest look at crime in Grovetown and Columbia County: what FBI and GBI data say, the growth-and-policing context, violent vs property crime, and how to check your own street.
Read the guideTHE SAFETY GUIDE
Towns & communities
Is North Augusta, SC safe?
An honest look at crime in North Augusta and Aiken County: what SLED data say, the county comparison across the river, violent vs property crime, and how to check your own street.
Read the guideTHE DATA CENTER EXPLAINER
Regional guides
The CSRA data center boom
What is actually being built around Augusta (Google at White Oak, Meta at Sage Mill, QTS, Project Azalea, Savannah River Site), why Georgia, and what it means for jobs, taxes, power bills, and home values.
Read the guideTHE DATA CENTER EXPLAINER
Regional guides
Data center water and power, explained
A sourced guide to Georgia Power's base-rate freeze, local cooling and water rules, White Oak's public commitments, and what CSRA residents still cannot verify.
Read the guideTOWN GUIDE
Towns & communities
Aiken, SC
Aiken County seat of about 32,000: equestrian country, 2,100 acres of free trails at Hitchcock Woods, and South Carolina taxes a half hour from Augusta.
Read the guideTOWN GUIDE
Towns & communities
Appling, GA
Unincorporated Columbia County, 658 people at the 2020 Census: the de jure county seat with no city hall or city services, plus lake access and some of the quietest roads in the county.
Read the guideTOWN GUIDE
Towns & communities
Blythe, GA
Tiny two-county city of 744 at the 2020 Census, straddling the Richmond and Burke county line south of Augusta.
Read the guideTOWN GUIDE
Towns & communities
Edgefield, SC
Edgefield County seat of 2,322 at the 2020 Census: the self-styled Home of Ten Governors, with a real downtown square 26 miles north of Augusta.
Read the guideTOWN GUIDE
Towns & communities
Hephzibah, GA
Incorporated city of 3,830 at the 2020 Census in southern Richmond County, running its own water, sewer, fire, police, and sanitation across 19 square miles.
Read the guideTOWN GUIDE
Towns & communities
Lincolnton, GA
Lincoln County seat of 1,480 at the 2020 Census, the county's only municipality, with the Clarks Hill Lake shoreline a few miles from downtown.
Read the guideTOWN GUIDE
Towns & communities
North Augusta, SC
City of 24,379 at the 2020 Census across the Savannah River: the 12-mile Greeneway, SRP Park, and South Carolina taxes ten minutes from downtown Augusta.
Read the guideTOWN GUIDE
Towns & communities
Thomson, GA
McDuffie County seat of 6,814 at the 2020 Census on I-20, with a real city government, its own hospital, a Main Street, and railroad history.
Read the guideTOWN GUIDE
Towns & communities
Washington, GA
Wilkes County seat of 3,754 at the 2020 Census, reputedly the first place in America named for George Washington, with its own 25-bed hospital and school district.
Read the guideTOWN GUIDE
Towns & communities
Waynesboro, GA
Burke County seat of 5,799 at the 2020 Census, 35 miles south of Augusta, with the courthouse, the county offices, and Plant Vogtle next door.
Read the guideTOWN GUIDE
Towns & communities
Wrens, GA
Jefferson County city of 2,217 at the 2020 Census on US 1, where the city government runs water, sewer, natural gas, and trash pickup.
Read the guideTHE PROPERTY TAX EXPLAINER
Money & taxes
Augusta GA Property Tax, Explained
What an Augusta homeowner actually pays: how Richmond County assessments work, what the millage rates are, which homestead exemptions cut the bill, when and where to pay, and how Georgia's setup compares to South Carolina's.
Read the guideTHE BORDER-TAX BREAKDOWN
Money & taxes
Georgia vs South Carolina Taxes: The Border-Town Breakdown
Income tax, property tax, sales tax, car tax, and retirement taxes compared side by side for Augusta and North Augusta: every figure sourced from official records.
Read the guideTHE EMPLOYERS, EXPLAINED
Regional guides
Who Actually Employs Augusta: The CSRA's Biggest Employers
The real anchors of Augusta's job market: Fort Gordon, Savannah River Site, Wellstar, the manufacturers, the cyber corridor, and the data-center wave, with sourced headcounts.
Read the guideHEAD-TO-HEAD COMPARISON
Towns & communities
Evans vs Augusta: where should you actually live?
Head-to-head comparison of Evans and Augusta, GA: schools, property taxes, crime, home prices, commute estimates, and honest verdicts by persona.
Read the guideTRANSPORTATION GUIDE
Start here
Getting around the CSRA: roads, transit, and the airport
Getting around the CSRA: I-20 and I-520, commuter corridors, Augusta Transit, Augusta Regional Airport (AGS), Fort Gordon gates, and Masters week traffic.
Read the guideTHE GAS TAX EXPLAINER
Money & taxes
GA gas tax suspended: what Augusta drivers save
Georgia's 33.3-cent gas tax is suspended Sept 29 through Oct 29, 2026. What Augusta drivers save per fill-up, what diesel drivers get, and what happens next.
Read the guideFORT GORDON GUIDE
Fort Gordon
Fort Gordon Chapel Services: Times, Chapels & What to Expect (2026)
Service schedules and chapel locations for Protestant, Catholic, LDS, Muslim, Jewish, and other faith communities on post.
Read the guideMONEY GUIDE
Money & taxes
Cost of Living in the CSRA: What Your Paycheck Buys (2026 Data)
Compare housing, rent, utilities, gas, and groceries across CSRA communities.
Read the guideMONEY GUIDE
Money & taxes
Georgia Benefits for Disabled Veterans
A practical guide to Georgia and South Carolina veteran benefits, exemptions, and local resources.
Read the guideMONEY GUIDE
Money & taxes
Homestead Exemption by County
How to check eligibility and file in Richmond, Columbia, and Aiken counties.
Read the guideMONEY GUIDE
Money & taxes
Masters Week Rentals in Augusta
What homeowners and visitors should know about Masters Week rentals, timing, and the Augusta Rule.
Read the guideWEEKEND GUIDE
Things to do
50 Spots Worth Your Saturday in the CSRA
Fifty local tables, trails, patios, and free afternoons across Augusta and the CSRA.
Read the guideACTIVITY GUIDE
Things to do
Things to Do in Augusta
A broad guide to local attractions, outdoors, museums, family activities, and date nights.
Read the guideAUGUSTA GUIDE
Towns & communities
Augusta Colleges and Universities
A guide to higher education options in Augusta and the surrounding area.
Read the guideNeed a town comparison? Browse all towns New to the CSRA? Start here All money guides