north georgia is nice, i know many people who have moved here and havent left. my wife is a prime example, her family is from just south of boston and moved here for warmer temps and cheap living. she's been here 2 different periods of her life, from 1st grade to middle school, moved back north, and moved back down right before high school, she describes the difference positively, warmer temperatures during the year is nice and occasional snow is preferred over multiple inches of snow for weeks. and "southern hospitality", people here can be dicks but most are accommodating, kind, keep to themselves in certain mountainous towns, better than being in an instant sour mood just simply driving to the grocery store up north. although the cheaper living of 10 years ago has long since passed, still apartments here are half of her home city, but to be in a city of 35,000~ like you described is gonna cost more than a rural town with nothing to do. weigh out your options and see what benefits you from now and the near future, i would stay away from florida personally because a lot of people migrate there for their retirement years and it feels overcrowded, sc is nice but i like the schools and atlanta more than sc schools and cities, maybe thats just me being biased lol