The Peach State, situated within the southeastern U.S. simply north of Florida, is a gorgeous retirement vacation spot for a variety of life and budgets. From small cities to main cities, the Atlantic coast to the Blue Ridge Mountains, and inexpensive neighborhoods to upscale communities, Georgia provides various landscapes. In 2023, AARP cited causes to retire in Georgia, together with its tax benefits, comparatively inexpensive housing, gentle local weather, and comfort of journey, with a caveat concerning the state’s low rating in well being care programs.
Bankrate ranked the most effective and worst states for retirement contemplating affordability, value and high quality of well being care, climate, crime, and total well-being, with the previous weighted at 40 p.c. Georgia took third place in 2024, based on value of dwelling and an enchancment within the well being care class over current years. Crime scores are poor in sure areas — one thing retirees could need to think about when deciding on particular cities, cities, or neighborhoods. In response to 2022 information from the U.S. Census Bureau, 15.1 p.c of the state’s inhabitants is over the age of 65, pretty near the nationwide common of 17.3 p.c.
Georgia doesn’t tax Social Safety advantages, however earnings from annuities, pensions, dividends, and pre-tax account withdrawals is taxable. Nonetheless, 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 reside all through the state, we spoke to native specialists about their communities as retirement locations. Primarily based on our analysis, these are a number of the greatest locations to retire in Georgia.
Decatur
The 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. “Flats, condos, and single-family properties make dwelling in Decatur accessible for retirees of various financial means,” she says. Emory College additionally provides cultural and leisure alternatives, in addition to persevering with schooling — a plus for a lot of retirees.
The town’s glorious faculty 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 dwelling worth is $654,400, in accordance with Area of interest.
Dwelling in Decatur provides loads to do outside, too, with plentiful parks and inexperienced areas, together with close by Atlanta’s museums, leisure, {and professional} sports activities venues. Plus, per SmartAsset, Decatur offers “a strong variety of medical facilities, with 13.98 places per 1,000 residents.”
Dalton
Situated 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 relationship 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 now have 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 climbing and canoeing at Haig Mill Lake Park. It’s small however lovely, with fishing, picnicking, and two strolling paths.”
Dalton additionally has inexpensive housing and a low unemployment fee, interesting to seniors on a restricted funds and those that could need to work part-time after retirement. Area of interest cites a median dwelling worth of $182,500, and glorious well being assets and reasonable winters, in accordance with Finest Locations, seal the deal.
Sandy Springs
About half-hour north of downtown Atlanta, and a simple journey on MARTA public transportation, Sandy Springs is ready alongside the Chattahoochee River, with greater than 20 miles of river frontage, parks, and trails, in accordance with realtor and 11-year resident Robin Conklin of House Luxurious Actual Property. “Sandy Springs is a superb place to reside and retire. We get 4 true seasons, and are simply two hours from the mountains and 5 hours from the seashore.” Conklin says. “An incredible profit for retirees is the Dorothy C. Benson Senior Multipurpose Advanced, the place they’ve artwork, laptop, and different lessons; grownup daycare; health applications; 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 dwelling gross sales worth 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 an incredible performing arts heart, festivals, parades, tennis and pickleball courts, and farmers markets. Misplaced Nook Protect provides free lectures, health lessons, images and guide golf equipment, and a group backyard.”
St. Simons Island
One in all 4 barrier islands on Georgia’s Atlantic coast, St. Simons Island provides golf, historical past, buying, seashores, museums, outside actions, and a small-town environment. Area of interest states the median dwelling worth is $445,500, and in accordance with the World Inhabitants Evaluate, the median age there may be 57.4 years.
“With our in depth listing 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 timber and watch a dawn on the seashore, you gained’t need to go away.”
Cartersville
Small-town model and inexpensive housing make Cartersville interesting to retirees. The median dwelling worth right here is $274,800, in accordance with Area of interest, whereas Zillow estimates the common dwelling worth is $316,659. Realtor Chris Hardin tells T+L, “There’s a wide range of housing, from single-family properties to residences, in addition to senior communities, together with assisted and unbiased dwelling.”
The walkable downtown provides 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 also 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 companies, together with emergency care, surgical procedure, imaging, and rehabilitation.”
Woodstock
Situated 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 accordance with him, “It’s an awesome place for households and retirees. You see a number of retired people on e-bikes and golf carts, having fun with being outside.” He provides that there are a selection of properties out there as effectively, from residences to spacious homes. The median dwelling worth is $359,800, in accordance with Area of interest, whereas Zillow stories the common dwelling worth is $448,164, a rise of almost 4 p.c over the earlier 12 months.
“Many seniors are transferring in from states like California, they usually discover they will get rather a lot for his or her {dollars} compared,” Hardin says. “The town is including downtown parking, and there’s a resort within the works, too.”
Athens
Situated within the northeastern a part of the state, this metropolis, dwelling of the College of Georgia, is about 1.5 hours east of Atlanta. Carol Bitner, affiliate dealer at Keller Williams Higher Athens, has helped many retirees discover properties in Athens.
“They love the truth that they will 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 dwelling worth right here is $242,300, whereas Zillow stories a median dwelling worth of $322,972. And with a wide range 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 p.c 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
In response to Jena Puckett, a realtor with Meybohm Actual Property, “Augusta is a superb place to reside. We now have the Savannah River and Augusta Canal, the place there’s lovely surroundings, 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 provides an lively life-style with reasonable climate and a low value of dwelling. Zillow estimates the common value 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 visitors are known 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 now have the Medical Faculty of Georgia, with nursing, medical, and dental colleges.”