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 Tremendous Properties factors out the town’s walkability, together with its festivals, occasions, concert events, 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 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 increased taxes, however seniors (65+) are eligible for tax reductions. As for housing, the median residence worth is $654,400, in response to Area of interest.

Dwelling in Decatur provides lots 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 supplies “a strong variety of medical facilities, with 13.98 areas 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 relationship 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 now have nice eating places, distinctive purchasing, 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 stunning, with fishing, picnicking, and two strolling paths.”

Dalton additionally has reasonably priced housing and a low unemployment price, interesting to seniors on a restricted finances and people who could wish to work part-time after retirement. Area of interest cites a median residence value of $182,500, and wonderful well being assets and reasonable winters, in response to Finest Locations, seal the deal.

Sandy Springs

About half-hour north of downtown Atlanta, and a straightforward journey on MARTA public transportation, Sandy Springs is about alongside the Chattahoochee River, with greater than 20 miles of river frontage, parks, and trails, in response to realtor and 11-year resident Robin Conklin of Residence Luxurious Actual Property. “Sandy Springs is an excellent place to reside and retire. We get 4 true seasons, and are simply two hours from the mountains and 5 hours from the seaside.” Conklin says. “An awesome profit for retirees is the Dorothy C. Benson Senior Multipurpose Complicated, 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 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 services in Metro Atlanta. We even have an incredible performing arts middle, festivals, parades, tennis and pickleball courts, and farmers markets. Misplaced Nook Protect provides free lectures, health lessons, images and guide golf equipment, and a neighborhood backyard.”

St. Simons Island

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

“With our intensive 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 bushes and watch a dawn on the seaside, you gained’t wish to depart.”

Cartersville

Small-town model and reasonably priced housing make Cartersville interesting to retirees. The median residence worth right here is $274,800, in response to Area of interest, whereas Zillow estimates the common residence value is $316,659. Realtor Chris Hardin tells T+L, “There’s a wide range of housing, from single-family houses to residences, in addition to senior communities, together with assisted and impartial dwelling.”

The walkable downtown provides eating places, historical past, artwork, theaters, neighborhood occasions, and purchasing. “Residents can simply get to the river, mountains, or parks,” Hardin says, including that public transportation can be accessible, 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 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 response to him, “It’s an ideal place for households and retirees. You see a variety of retired people on e-bikes and golf carts, having fun with being outside.” He provides that there are a selection of houses accessible as nicely, from residences to spacious homes. The median residence worth is $359,800, in response to Area of interest, whereas Zillow experiences the common residence value is $448,164, a rise of practically 4 p.c over the earlier yr.

“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. “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 Larger Athens, has helped many retirees discover houses 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, 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 experiences a mean residence 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 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 reside. 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 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 event, attracting hundreds of thousands of tv viewers and “patrons” (as Masters company are known as). Puckett notes, “Many Augusta householders lease their homes throughout the Masters golf event 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 faculties.”