The Peach State, positioned within the southeastern U.S. simply north of Florida, is a pretty retirement vacation spot for a variety of existence and budgets. From small cities to main cities, the Atlantic coast to the Blue Ridge Mountains, and reasonably priced neighborhoods to upscale communities, Georgia presents numerous landscapes. In 2023, AARP cited causes to retire in Georgia, together with its tax benefits, comparatively reasonably priced housing, gentle local weather, and comfort of journey, with a caveat concerning the state’s low rating in well being care methods.
Bankrate ranked the perfect and worst states for retirement contemplating affordability, price and high quality of well being care, climate, crime, and general well-being, with the previous weighted at 40 %. Georgia took third place in 2024, based totally on price of dwelling and an enchancment within the well being care class over latest years. Crime scores are poor in sure areas — one thing retirees could wish to consider when deciding on particular cities, cities, or neighborhoods. In response to 2022 knowledge from the U.S. Census Bureau, 15.1 % of the state’s inhabitants is over the age of 65, pretty near the nationwide common of 17.3 %.
Georgia doesn’t tax Social Safety advantages, however earnings from annuities, pensions, dividends, and pre-tax account withdrawals is taxable. Nevertheless, the state permits people over the age of 62 to exclude important quantities of taxable earnings, and the deduction will increase at age 65. The state has no inheritance or property taxes.
With many interesting locations to stay all through the state, we spoke to native specialists about their communities as retirement locations. Based mostly on our analysis, these are a few of the greatest locations to retire in Georgia.
Decatur
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Town of Decatur, about six miles from downtown Atlanta, attracts retirees, empty nesters, and seniors who transfer right here to be close to their grandchildren. Lisa Cronic of Sotheby’s High quality Houses factors out town’s walkability, together with its festivals, occasions, live shows, and eating places. “Residences, condos, and single-family houses make dwelling in Decatur accessible for retirees of various financial means,” she says. Emory College additionally presents cultural and leisure alternatives, in addition to persevering with training — a plus for a lot of retirees.
Town’s glorious college system — a draw for a lot of younger households — corresponds to greater taxes, however seniors (65+) are eligible for tax reductions. As for housing, the median house worth is $654,400, in line with Area of interest.
Residing in Decatur presents lots to do outside, too, with considerable parks and inexperienced areas, together with close by Atlanta’s museums, leisure, {and professional} sports activities venues. Plus, per SmartAsset, Decatur offers “a stable variety of medical facilities, with 13.98 places per 1,000 residents.”
Dalton
Courtesy of Discover Georgia
Positioned within the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Dalton is named the “Carpet Capital of the World” for its 150-plus carpet producers and textile historical past courting to the early 1900s. In response to realtor Laura Younger of Coldwell Banker Kinard Realty, “Dalton is all enterprise with a facet of enjoyable. We’ve nice eating places, distinctive buying, and a full of life downtown nightlife with bars, breweries, and an open container coverage.” Along with the nightlife, Younger provides, “There’s nice mountain climbing and canoeing at Haig Mill Lake Park. It’s small however lovely, with fishing, picnicking, and two strolling paths.”
Dalton additionally has reasonably priced housing and a low unemployment price, interesting to seniors on a restricted funds and those that could wish to work part-time after retirement. Area of interest cites a median house value of $182,500, and glorious well being sources and reasonable winters, in line with Finest Locations, seal the deal.
Sandy Springs
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About half-hour north of downtown Atlanta, and a straightforward trip on MARTA public transportation, Sandy Springs is about alongside the Chattahoochee River, with greater than 20 miles of river frontage, parks, and trails, in line with realtor and 11-year resident Robin Conklin of House Luxurious Actual Property. “Sandy Springs is a superb place to stay and retire. We get 4 true seasons, and are simply two hours from the mountains and 5 hours from the seashore.” Conklin says. “An amazing profit for retirees is the Dorothy C. Benson Senior Multipurpose Advanced, the place they’ve artwork, laptop, and different lessons; grownup daycare; health packages; lectures; and weekly journeys, with no earnings necessities and no cost for this system.”
There’s an vary of housing choices, too, with the common house gross sales value for the final 12 months at $730,000, per Conklin. She factors out one other plus for retirees: “Sandy Springs has the biggest focus of main well being care services in Metro Atlanta. We even have a tremendous performing arts heart, festivals, parades, tennis and pickleball courts, and farmers markets. Misplaced Nook Protect presents free lectures, health lessons, pictures and e-book golf equipment, and a group backyard.”
St. Simons Island
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Certainly one of 4 barrier islands on Georgia’s Atlantic coast, St. Simons Island presents golf, historical past, buying, seashores, museums, out of doors actions, and a small-town environment. Area of interest states the median house worth is $445,500, and in line with the World Inhabitants Evaluation, the median age there’s 57.4 years.
“With our in depth record of facilities together with kayaking, boating, fishing, golf, pickleball, nature trails, miles of sidewalks, and the seashores, St. Simons Island has one thing to supply everybody,” Chandra Kendall, affiliate dealer at DeLoach Sotheby’s Worldwide Realty, tells T + L. “The great thing about St. Simons is like no different. When you see the moss-draped oak bushes and watch a dawn on the seashore, you gained’t wish to go away.”
Cartersville
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Small-town type and reasonably priced housing make Cartersville interesting to retirees. The median house worth right here is $274,800, in line with Area of interest, whereas Zillow estimates the common house value is $316,659. Realtor Chris Hardin tells T+L, “There’s quite a lot of housing, from single-family houses to residences, in addition to senior communities, together with assisted and impartial dwelling.”
The walkable downtown presents eating places, historical past, artwork, theaters, group occasions, and buying. “Residents can simply get to the river, mountains, or parks,” Hardin says, including that public transportation can be out there, as is a transit service for seniors and people with disabilities.
Well being care is handy, too. Hardin notes, “For medical care, Piedmont Healthcare places of work in Cartersville provide a spread of providers, together with emergency care, surgical procedure, imaging, and rehabilitation.”
Woodstock
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Positioned about 30 miles north of Atlanta, Woodstock is thought for its walkable downtown, parks, trails, and interesting life-style. Hardin and his household have lived in Woodstock for 10 years, and in line with him, “It’s an incredible place for households and retirees. You see loads of retired people on e-bikes and golf carts, having fun with being outside.” He provides that there are a number of houses out there as properly, from residences to spacious homes. The median house worth is $359,800, in line with Area of interest, whereas Zillow experiences the common house value is $448,164, a rise of almost 4 % over the earlier 12 months.
“Many seniors are shifting in from states like California, and so they discover they’ll get loads for his or her {dollars} compared,” Hardin says. “Town is including downtown parking, and there’s a lodge within the works, too.”
Athens
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Positioned within the northeastern a part of the state, this metropolis, house of the College of Georgia, is about 1.5 hours east of Atlanta. Carol Bitner, affiliate dealer at Keller Williams Better Athens, has helped many retirees discover houses in Athens.
“They love the truth that they’ll audit lessons on the College of Georgia for gratis. Additionally, there’s the Osher Lifelong Studying Institute (OLLI) with a variety of lessons, journey alternatives, and social occasions for adults ages 50 and over.” Bitner provides, “Athens has a small-town really feel, with eating places, live shows, a theater, museums, and a beautiful botanical backyard. So many seniors benefit from the mixture of ages right here in Athens. They inform me it makes them really feel younger.”
Area of interest states the median house worth right here is $242,300, whereas Zillow experiences a mean house worth of $322,972. And with quite a lot of neighborhoods, from downtown to upscale 5 Factors, comes big selection of life-style choices.
The median age in Athens/Clarke County is 33.3, and 21 % of the inhabitants is over age 60. Well being care high quality and availability is rated glorious by Numbeo — an necessary consideration for a lot of retirees.
Augusta
Courtesy of Discover Georgia
In response to Jena Puckett, a realtor with Meybohm Actual Property, “Augusta is a good place to stay. We’ve the Savannah River and Augusta Canal, the place there’s lovely surroundings, mountain climbing, biking, kayaking, and boat excursions.” Puckett provides, “We even have Clarks Hill Lake close by, with a lot of issues to do there.” The historic metropolis presents an lively life-style with reasonable climate and a low price of dwelling. Zillow estimates the common price of a house to be $172,060, in comparison with the estimate by Area of interest of $141,900.
Augusta additionally hosts the annual Masters skilled golf match, attracting tens of millions of tv viewers and “patrons” (as Masters friends are referred to as). Puckett notes, “Many Augusta owners lease their homes throughout the Masters golf match as a result of there are such a lot of guests on the town.” Numbeo charges well being care high quality and availability above common, and Puckett feedback, “We’ve the Medical School of Georgia, with nursing, medical, and dental colleges.”