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 Positive Properties factors out the town’s walkability, together with its festivals, occasions, concert events, and eating places. “Flats, condos, and single-family properties make residing 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 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 house worth is $654,400, in keeping with Area of interest.

Residing in Decatur presents loads 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

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 courting to the early 1900s. In keeping with realtor Laura Younger of Coldwell Banker Kinard Realty, “Dalton is all enterprise with a aspect of enjoyable. We have now 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 inexpensive housing and a low unemployment charge, interesting to seniors on a restricted funds and people who could wish to work part-time after retirement. Area of interest cites a median house value of $182,500, and wonderful well being assets and average winters, in keeping with 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, in keeping with realtor and 11-year resident Robin Conklin of Dwelling 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 amazing profit for retirees is the Dorothy C. Benson Senior Multipurpose Advanced, the place they’ve artwork, pc, 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 typical 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 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, images and e book golf equipment, and a group backyard.”

St. Simons Island

Certainly one of 4 barrier islands on Georgia’s Atlantic coast, St. Simons Island presents golf, historical past, buying, seashores, museums, outside actions, and a small-town ambiance. Area of interest states the median house worth is $445,500, and in keeping with 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 type and inexpensive housing make Cartersville interesting to retirees. The median house worth right here is $274,800, in keeping with Area of interest, whereas Zillow estimates the typical house value 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 residing.”

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 also 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 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 keeping with him, “It’s a fantastic place for households and retirees. You see numerous retired of us on e-bikes and golf carts, having fun with being open air.” He provides that there are a selection of properties obtainable as nicely, from residences to spacious homes. The median house worth is $359,800, in keeping with Area of interest, whereas Zillow experiences the typical house 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 so much for his or her {dollars} as compared,” Hardin says. “Town is including downtown parking, and there’s a lodge within the works, too.”

Athens

Situated 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 Larger 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, concert events, 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 experiences a mean house 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 keeping with Jena Puckett, a realtor with Meybohm Actual Property, “Augusta is a good place to reside. We have now 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 number of issues to do there.” The historic metropolis presents an lively life-style with average climate and a low value of residing. 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 thousands and thousands of tv viewers and “patrons” (as Masters visitors 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 have now the Medical Faculty of Georgia, with nursing, medical, and dental colleges.”