Moving to Savannah, GA: A Renter’s Guide to Life Near the Hostess City
If you are considering moving to Savannah, GA, there is more to the decision than choosing a neighborhood on a map. The greater Savannah area brings together moss-draped squares, Coastal Georgia scenery, a diverse employment base, local restaurants, arts, and communities that each offer a different pace of life.
For renters who want to live near Savannah, Georgia, nearby Pooler is another location worth exploring. Located at 2200 Pooler Parkway, Monument at Pooler provides a suburban home base with access to I-16, I-95, Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, Downtown Savannah, the Port of Savannah, and regional employers.
This guide looks at what life in Savannah, Georgia is like day to day, from climate and culture to jobs, commuting, recreation, and apartment living.
What Is It Like to Live near Savannah, GA?
Living near Savannah means getting to know a city where history, coastal surroundings, and modern everyday life overlap.
Savannah has a subtropical climate with generally mild winters and hot, humid summers. The warmer weather creates plenty of opportunities to spend time outside, whether that means walking through the city’s public squares, exploring parks and waterways, dining on a patio, or planning a weekend near the coast.
Downtown Savannah delivers much of the character people picture first. Oak-lined squares, historic streets, River Street, City Market, museums, galleries, restaurants, and shops are concentrated throughout the historic core, making it one of the area’s most walkable settings.
The pace changes as you move farther out. Communities like Pooler are more car-oriented, but major roadways keep Savannah and other regional destinations within reach.
Savannah’s food, arts, and entertainment scene also gives residents plenty to work into a regular weekend. You might start with coffee downtown, browse shops or galleries around City Market, meet friends for dinner, or catch live music later in the evening. Historic sites, museums, festivals, sporting events, and Savannah’s well-known ghost-tour culture add even more local flavor.
Pooler: The Modern Hub of West Chatham
If historic downtown is Savannah’s heart, Pooler is West Chatham’s pulse, driving much of the area’s shopping, employment, and residential growth. Originally known as Pooler’s Station, a 19th-century railroad stop just outside Savannah, the city has grown into a major hub within the Savannah metro. Daily life here revolves around “The Parkway” (Pooler Parkway) which is the bustling strip where you’ll find everything from Tanger Outlets and big-box shopping to local spots for seafood or southern BBQ. Sprawling neighborhoods sprinkle the area offering sidewalk-lined master-planned subdivisions, schools, and community hot spots. Sitting near I-95, I-16, and several major employment centers also makes Pooler especially connected to the rest of the Savannah area.
Beyond retail convenience, Pooler has plenty of character of its own. Spend an afternoon walking around the lake or playing disc golf at Tom Triplett Community Park, explore aviation history at the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, or catch a movie at Royal Cinemas & IMAX. Downtown Savannah is roughly 10 miles east, while US-80 continues through Savannah toward Tybee Island and the coast. With Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport just minutes away, Pooler also offers convenient connections for regional and long-distance travel.
Moving near Savannah for Work
Employment can play a major role in deciding where to live when moving to Savannah.
The Savannah region supports major employers and industries across aerospace, logistics, port operations, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, education, tourism, and hospitality. Gulfstream Aerospace is one of the area’s major employers, while the Port of Savannah supports a significant logistics and distribution sector. Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America has also added a major manufacturing presence to the greater Savannah region.
Higher education contributes to the area’s workforce as well, with institutions such as Savannah College of Art and Design, Georgia Southern University’s Armstrong Campus, Georgia Tech’s Savannah presence, and Galen College of Nursing in Pooler.
For renters considering Monument at Pooler, the community’s location provides access toward the Port of Savannah, Hyundai Metaplant, Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, and other regional employment destinations.
Monument at Pooler also offers a Major Employer Program for eligible employees of participating organizations and professions throughout the Savannah area. Prospective residents can contact the leasing team for current program details.
Getting Around Savannah & Pooler
Transportation is another factor worth considering before relocating to Savannah, GA.
Downtown Savannah is one of the area’s more walkable environments, while Pooler supports a more car-oriented routine. Pooler Parkway, I-16, and I-95 provide important connections throughout the region, and Monument at Pooler’s location places residents near both interstate corridors.
For someone living in Pooler, Downtown Savannah can remain a destination for work, dining, museums, events, and nights out while many everyday errands stay closer to home.
Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport is another important regional connection, especially for frequent travelers, relocating professionals, and aviation employees.
One of the most useful things you can do before choosing an apartment is map your actual commute. The best location is not necessarily the one that looks closest to Savannah on a map, but the one that works for the destinations you will use most often.
Things to Do When You Live Near Savannah
Living near Savannah gives renters plenty of options for weekends and time away from work.
Explore Historic Savannah
Downtown Savannah is easy to build into a regular weekend routine. Walk through the public squares, head toward River Street, browse shops and galleries around City Market, stop for coffee, visit a museum, or meet friends for dinner.
Sports offer another side of the local scene, with Savannah Bananas baseball and Savannah Ghost Pirates hockey joining the city’s festivals, performances, nightlife, and cultural attractions.
Enjoy Coastal Georgia
Savannah also serves as a gateway to the coast.
Tybee Island is a popular beach destination for residents throughout the Savannah area. A day trip might include time on the beach, a walk near the pier, kayaking, fishing, or a casual meal near the water.
Parks, waterways, marshes, and other outdoor destinations throughout Coastal Georgia give renters even more options when they want a change of scenery.
Stay Closer to Home in Pooler
Not every outing requires a trip into Savannah.
Pooler has its own mix of shopping, dining, entertainment, and recreation. Nearby destinations include Tanger Outlets, Royal Cinemas, Dave & Buster’s, Pooler Recreation Complex, Tom Triplett Park, and the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force.
Monument at Pooler is also positioned directly across from the planned Mosaic Town Center. The 170-acre mixed-use development is expected to add shopping, dining, entertainment, healthcare, and green space to the surrounding area as development progresses.
That balance lets residents enjoy Savannah’s history and culture while keeping many everyday activities closer to home.
What Renters Should Know Before Moving to the Savannah area
If you’re wondering if you should move to Savannah, start with the routine you actually want to build.
Think about where you will work or study, how often you expect to visit Downtown Savannah, which highways you will use, and whether you prefer a walkable urban setting or a more suburban home base. Shopping, airport access, dining, recreation, and commute patterns should all factor into the decision.
If you are planning to relocate to Savannah, GA, expanding your search to include Pooler gives you another option outside the city limits.
Your apartment needs matter just as much as location. Monument at Pooler offers studio, 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom floor plans with features such as washers and dryers, stainless steel appliances, stone countertops, walk-in closets, and patios or balconies, with certain features varying by home.
Community amenities include a resort-style pool with cabanas, fitness center, yoga studio, business lounge, coworking spaces, outdoor gathering areas, package lockers, garage options, and pet-friendly amenities including a pet park and spa.
Renting can also give newcomers time to learn the area before making a longer-term housing decision. After you move to the area, you can experience your real commute, discover which places become part of your weekend routine, and decide whether Savannah proper or a surrounding community better fits your lifestyle.
Live Near Savannah at Monument at Pooler
If Pooler sounds like the right fit, Monument at Pooler is worth exploring.
Located at 2200 Pooler Parkway, the community offers studio, 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom apartments near I-16 and I-95, with access toward Downtown Savannah, Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, the Port of Savannah, Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, and other regional destinations.
At home, residents can enjoy modern apartment interiors alongside resort-style amenities, fitness and coworking spaces, pet-friendly features, and outdoor gathering areas. The planned Mosaic Town Center is also positioned directly across from the community, while existing Pooler shopping, dining, recreation, and entertainment are nearby.
If you are moving to the Savannah area, explore how a Pooler home base can fit your workday, weekends, and everyday routine. — View our Floorplans
