“The Two Brunswicks”: What Locals Really Say About Moving Here

Every few weeks, a newcomer hops into a Brunswick Facebook group with the same innocent question:

“I’m moving to Brunswick with my daughter — what do I need to look out for?”

And every time, the comments section splits like the Marshes of Glynn at low tide.

What followed in one recent thread was a near-perfect microcosm of how differently locals see this town — from doom-and-gloom hand-wringers to people who think Brunswick is basically paradise with shrimp.

Here’s what we found.

The Apocalypse Now Crowd

Some folks wasted zero time taking the express lane to the worst-case scenario:

• “Everything — drugs, human trafficking, gangs, corruption.”

• “Gangs, thugs.”

• “The job market is horrible… high crime… pollution… slums…”

• “Don’t live in the city of Brunswick.”

• “Do not take your daughter to Brunswick Hospital. Go to Savannah.”

• “Men.” (No elaboration. Just… men.)

One commenter even warned that Brunswick is the midget capital of the world, which is… a new entry in the local folklore canon.

And then there was the minimalist classic:

• “The Exit.”

How subtle!

The Realists: “Use common sense and you’ll be fine.”

Plenty of locals offered grounded, practical advice without theatrics:

• “Keep your car locked.”

• “Don’t walk certain blocks after dark.”

• “Check what schools you’re zoned for.”

• “Crazy drivers!”

• “Cost of living… 🙄”

One summed things up perfectly:

“It really depends on where you're coming from. If it's a bigger city, you’ll be fine.”

And another added the golden rule of every Southern mid-sized town:

“It’s what you make it.”

The Cheerleaders: “Brunswick is beautiful — ignore the negativity.”

Then came the people who absolutely love it here and say so loudly:

• “It’s a remarkable historic city with great restaurants and a vibrant, alive downtown.”

• “Such a good community of people! Always events to go to!”

• “I moved here from Atlanta in March and absolutely love it!”

• “The sunsets from the Sidney Lanier Bridge will take your breath away.”

• “It’s beautiful here! The best decision I ever made for me and my kids.”

One woman, who had clearly made the emotional journey from skeptic to convert, wrote:

She then proceeded to give a love letter to Gould’s Inlet, Indigo Coastal Shanty, Spiral Wanderer, Little Zook’s, and basically the places we all recommend to visitors.

The Philosophers: “Life is what you make it.”

Amid all the chaos, one comment distilled the entire thread into a single line:

“Life is what you make it — your mindset shapes your experience.”

And honestly? That might be the truest thing anyone said.

Because Brunswick can be:

• rough around the edges and

• charming as hell,

• frustrating in one moment and

• breathtaking the next.

You can focus on crime posts — or sunsets.
You can fixate on potholes — or festivals.
You can stay home and complain — or explore Jekyll, grab dinner downtown, and find the pockets of magic that locals who love it keep talking about.

It’s all here. Which part you experience depends on you.

The Verdict for Newcomers

So, if you’re moving to Brunswick with your daughter, here’s the truth:

Brunswick has problems.

True of every town, especially one growing fast.

Brunswick has beauty.

More than many towns ever get.

Brunswick has locals who will tell you the sky is falling.

And locals who will offer you a beach chair and a bowl of shrimp.

Brunswick has soul.

Messy, funny, flawed, southern, creative, and stubbornly hopeful.

In short?

Brunswick is exactly what you make of it — and the people who love it often love it deeply.

If you come with an open mind, a dash of common sense, and maybe a strong opinion about roundabouts, you’ll fit right in.

Welcome to the Golden Isles!