8 Greatest 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 Positive Properties factors out the town’s walkability, together with its festivals, occasions, concert events, and eating places. “Residences, condos, and single-family properties 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 schooling — a plus for a lot of retirees.

Town’s glorious college system — a draw for a lot of younger households — corresponds to increased taxes, however seniors (65+) are eligible for tax reductions. As for housing, the median residence worth is $654,400, in accordance with Area of interest.

Dwelling in Decatur presents loads to do outside, too, with ample 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

Situated 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 aspect of enjoyable. We’ve got nice eating places, distinctive procuring, and a full of life downtown nightlife with bars, breweries, and an open container coverage.” Along with the nightlife, Younger provides, “There’s nice mountaineering 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 might wish to work part-time after retirement. Area of interest cites a median residence value of $182,500, and glorious well being sources and average winters, in accordance with Greatest Locations, seal the deal.

Sandy Springs

About half-hour north of downtown Atlanta, and a straightforward 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 an excellent place to dwell and retire. We get 4 true seasons, and are simply two hours from the mountains and 5 hours from the seaside.” 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 packages; lectures; and weekly journeys, with no revenue necessities and no cost for this system.”

There’s an vary of housing choices, too, with the typical residence 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 presents free lectures, health lessons, pictures 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 presents golf, historical past, procuring, seashores, museums, outside actions, and a small-town ambiance. Area of interest states the median residence worth is $445,500, and in accordance with the World Inhabitants Assessment, 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 great thing about St. Simons is like no different. When you see the moss-draped oak bushes and watch a dawn on the seaside, you gained’t wish to depart.”

Cartersville

Small-town fashion and inexpensive housing make Cartersville interesting to retirees. The median residence worth right here is $274,800, in accordance with Area of interest, whereas Zillow estimates the typical residence value is $316,659. Realtor Chris Hardin tells T+L, “There’s quite a lot of housing, from single-family properties to flats, in addition to senior communities, together with assisted and impartial dwelling.”

The walkable downtown presents 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 obtainable, as is a transit service for seniors and people with disabilities.

Well being care is handy, too. Hardin notes, “For medical care, Piedmont Healthcare workplaces in Cartersville supply a variety of providers, 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 a terrific place for households and retirees. You see a variety of retired of us on e-bikes and golf carts, having fun with being outside.” He provides that there are a number of properties obtainable as effectively, from flats to spacious homes. The median residence worth is $359,800, in accordance with Area of interest, whereas Zillow stories the typical residence value is $448,164, a rise of almost 4 % over the earlier yr.

“Many seniors are transferring in from states like California, and so they discover they’ll get quite a bit for his or her {dollars} compared,” Hardin says. “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, residence 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 without 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, concert events, 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 residence worth right here is $242,300, whereas Zillow stories a median residence 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

In accordance with Jena Puckett, a realtor with Meybohm Actual Property, “Augusta is a superb place to dwell. We’ve got the Savannah River and Augusta Canal, the place there’s lovely surroundings, mountaineering, biking, kayaking, and boat excursions.” Puckett provides, “We even have Clarks Hill Lake close by, with a number of issues to do there.” The historic metropolis presents an energetic life-style with average climate and a low value of dwelling. Zillow estimates the typical 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 hundreds of thousands of tv viewers and “patrons” (as Masters company are known as). Puckett notes, “Many Augusta householders lease 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’ve got the Medical School of Georgia, with nursing, medical, and dental faculties.”