Harlem is a small but growing community on the edge of Augusta
Harlem provides residents with the convenience of a small, pleasant downtown area while offering plenty of entertainment and housing options. Located east of Augusta, this city of 3,500 was the birthplace of the Hollywood actor and comedian Oliver Hardy, who is honored with a museum and a festival. While the community has been steadily adding housing, buyers can still find properties with plenty of acreage. “If you’re looking for some space [that is] a little more rural outside of the greater Columbia County area, Harlem is a great option,” says Shane Yeager, a Realtor with Braun Properties and Harlem resident. “It’s very much a family-oriented town and a small town and they look after each other so it’s a great place to raise kids.”
Lower-cost single-family homes with newer builds
Home styles here include ranch, bungalows and New Traditionals. Land is also available. Homes closer to downtown tend to be on gridded streets with larger lots and large oak trees. While the median home price is around $345,000, homes can start around $150,000 and reach as high as $900,000, depending on size, location and condition. “I’ve got a couple of acres out here. A lot of people have some land, but there are subdivisions going in, and it's growing every day,” Yeager says. The community is roughly 7 miles west of the entrance to Fort Gordon and is around 10 miles away from the manufacturing sites for Serta Simmons Bedding and John Deere in Grovetown.
Annual festivals to old legends and green spaces add to Harlem’s charm
The community has hosted the annual Oliver Hardy Festival since 1989, and features a parade, food vendors and film viewings. The restored Columbia Theatre downtown also features the Laurel and Hardy Museum of Georgia, which features exhibits of the early Hollywood comedy duo. Harlem also hosts the Bloomin’ Arts Festival every April, which sells and displays works by local artists. Green spaces include Harlem City Park, which has several baseball diamonds, sports courts and a playground. Glenn Phillips Memorial Park consists of a gazebo and reading benches. Events and attractions in downtown Augusta are 23 miles east.
Students attend Columbia County Schools for public school
Students here attend Columbia County Schools, rated A on Niche. They can start at North Harlem Elementary, then move on to Harlem Middle School, both of which earn a B-plus. B-minus-graded Harlem High School has programs in law enforcement and engineering.
Local restaurants and shops are on the main thoroughfares
Restaurants here are mainly located on Louisville Street and Milledgeville Road and feature a mix of chains and local spots. Monte Olivos Restaurant serves a mix of Italian and Mexican dishes such as pizza, tacos and burritos. The Harlem Java House offers coffee drinks and baked goods. The Acorn Restaurant has breakfast items along with sandwiches and burgers.
Several boutique clothing and gift stores are in Harlem’s downtown. Milledgeville Road has a KJ’s Market and a Dollar General. More big box retailers and grocery stores are in Grovetown, 8 miles northeast.
Severe weather is rare but not impossible
Hurricane Helene impacted the area in 2024, causing damage to trees and power lines. Yeager says that the community has since repaired any damage and that hurricanes and severe weather are not typical in Harlem. “We had never seen those kinds of winds in this area ever and so it was unusual and very rare,” says Yeager.
According to flood maps from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, there is a risk of flooding from local creeks
Easy access to major highways and the Augusta Regional Airport
Harlem does not have any public transport links and is mainly car dependent. U.S. Highway 78 cuts through the center of town and leads to downtown Augusta. The entrance to interstate 20 is 5 miles north on U.S Highway 221. Augusta Regional Airport is 25 miles east. The Doctors Hospital of Augusta is 18 miles east, but a 100-bed hospital is under conduction in Grovetown.
