8 Finest Locations to Retire in Georgia

Decatur

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 Wonderful Properties factors out the town’s walkability, together with its festivals, occasions, live shows, and eating places. “Residences, condos, and single-family properties make residing 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.

Town’s wonderful college system — a draw for a lot of younger households — corresponds to larger taxes, however seniors (65+) are eligible for tax reductions. As for housing, the median house worth is $654,400, based on Area of interest.

Dwelling in Decatur provides lots to do open air, too, with plentiful parks and inexperienced areas, together with close by Atlanta’s museums, leisure, {and professional} sports activities venues. Plus, per SmartAsset, Decatur supplies “a stable variety of medical facilities, with 13.98 places per 1,000 residents.”

Dalton

Positioned within the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Dalton is called the “Carpet Capital of the World” for its 150-plus carpet producers and textile historical past courting to the early 1900s. In accordance with realtor Laura Younger of Coldwell Banker Kinard Realty, “Dalton is all enterprise with a facet of enjoyable. We now have nice eating places, distinctive procuring, and a vigorous 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 stunning, with fishing, picnicking, and two strolling paths.”

Dalton additionally has inexpensive housing and a low unemployment price, interesting to seniors on a restricted finances and those that could wish to work part-time after retirement. Area of interest cites a median house value of $182,500, and wonderful well being sources and average winters, based on Finest Locations, seal the deal.

Sandy Springs

About half-hour north of downtown Atlanta, and a simple experience on MARTA public transportation, Sandy Springs is ready alongside the Chattahoochee River, with greater than 20 miles of river frontage, parks, and trails, based on realtor and 11-year resident Robin Conklin of House Luxurious Actual Property. “Sandy Springs is a superb place to dwell 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 Complicated, the place they’ve artwork, laptop, and different lessons; grownup daycare; health applications; lectures; and weekly journeys, with no revenue 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 yr at $730,000, per Conklin. She factors out one other plus for retirees: “Sandy Springs has the most important focus of main well being care amenities in Metro Atlanta. We even have a tremendous 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

Considered one of 4 barrier islands on Georgia’s Atlantic coast, St. Simons Island provides golf, historical past, procuring, seashores, museums, out of doors actions, and a small-town ambiance. Area of interest states the median house worth is $445,500, and based on the World Inhabitants Evaluation, the median age there may be 57.4 years.

“With our intensive checklist 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 fantastic 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 depart.”

Cartersville

Small-town fashion and inexpensive housing make Cartersville interesting to retirees. The median house worth right here is $274,800, based on Area of interest, whereas Zillow estimates the common house value is $316,659. Realtor Chris Hardin tells T+L, “There’s a wide range of housing, from single-family properties to flats, in addition to senior communities, together with assisted and unbiased residing.”

The walkable downtown provides eating places, historical past, artwork, theaters, group occasions, and procuring. “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 supply a spread of providers, together with emergency care, surgical procedure, imaging, and rehabilitation.”

Woodstock

Positioned about 30 miles north of Atlanta, Woodstock is thought for its walkable downtown, parks, trails, and interesting way of life. Hardin and his household have lived in Woodstock for 10 years, and based on him, “It’s a fantastic place for households and retirees. You see quite a lot of retired of us on e-bikes and golf carts, having fun with being open air.” He provides that there are a selection of properties out there as nicely, from flats to spacious homes. The median house worth is $359,800, based on Area of interest, whereas Zillow studies the common house value is $448,164, a rise of practically 4 p.c over the earlier yr.

“Many seniors are shifting in from states like California, they usually discover they’ll get quite a bit for his or her {dollars} as compared,” Hardin says. “Town is including downtown parking, and there’s a lodge within the works, too.”

Athens

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 properties in Athens.

“They love the truth that they’ll audit lessons on the College of Georgia for free of charge. 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 stunning 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 studies a median house worth of $322,972. And with a wide range of neighborhoods, from downtown to upscale 5 Factors, comes wide selection of way of life 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 wonderful by Numbeo — an necessary consideration for a lot of retirees.

Augusta

In accordance with Jena Puckett, a realtor with Meybohm Actual Property, “Augusta is a superb place to dwell. We now have the Savannah River and Augusta Canal, the place there’s stunning surroundings, climbing, biking, kayaking, and boat excursions.” Puckett provides, “We even have Clarks Hill Lake close by, with plenty of issues to do there.” The historic metropolis provides an lively way of life with average climate and a low price of residing. 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 hundreds of thousands of tv viewers and “patrons” (as Masters company are known as). Puckett notes, “Many Augusta owners hire their homes through 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 School of Georgia, with nursing, medical, and dental faculties.”