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 Superb Houses factors out town’s walkability, together with its festivals, occasions, live shows, 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 gives cultural and leisure alternatives, in addition to persevering with training — a plus for a lot of retirees.

Town’s wonderful college 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 house worth is $654,400, in keeping with Area of interest.

Dwelling in Decatur gives lots to do outdoor, 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 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 courting 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 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 inexpensive housing and a low unemployment charge, interesting to seniors on a restricted funds and those that could need 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, in keeping with Greatest Locations, seal the deal.

Sandy Springs

About half-hour north of downtown Atlanta, and a straightforward trip on MARTA public transportation, Sandy Springs is about 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 Residence 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. “A terrific profit for retirees is the Dorothy C. Benson Senior Multipurpose Advanced, the place they’ve artwork, pc, and different courses; 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 house gross sales value 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 amenities in Metro Atlanta. We even have a tremendous performing arts middle, festivals, parades, tennis and pickleball courts, and farmers markets. Misplaced Nook Protect gives free lectures, health courses, pictures and e-book golf equipment, and a neighborhood backyard.”

St. Simons Island

Considered one of 4 barrier islands on Georgia’s Atlantic coast, St. Simons Island gives golf, historical past, purchasing, 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 Evaluate, the median age there’s 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 bushes and watch a dawn on the seaside, you gained’t need to go away.”

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 common house value is $316,659. Realtor Chris Hardin tells T+L, “There’s quite a lot of housing, from single-family houses to residences, in addition to senior communities, together with assisted and unbiased dwelling.”

The walkable downtown gives 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 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 workplaces in Cartersville provide a variety of companies, together with emergency care, surgical procedure, imaging, and rehabilitation.”

Woodstock

Situated about 30 miles north of Atlanta, Woodstock is understood 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 an incredible place for households and retirees. You see numerous retired of us on e-bikes and golf carts, having fun with being outdoor.” He provides that there are a number of houses out there as properly, from residences to spacious homes. The median house worth is $359,800, in keeping with Area of interest, whereas Zillow studies the common house value is $448,164, a rise of practically 4 % over the earlier 12 months.

“Many seniors are shifting in from states like California, and so they 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, 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 houses in Athens.

“They love the truth that they will audit courses on the College of Georgia for gratis. Additionally, there’s the Osher Lifelong Studying Institute (OLLI) with a variety of courses, 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 mean house worth of $322,972. And with quite a lot of neighborhoods, from downtown to upscale 5 Factors, comes wide 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 wonderful by Numbeo — an essential consideration for a lot of retirees.

Augusta

In response to 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 numerous issues to do there.” The historic metropolis gives an lively life-style with average 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 friends are known as). Puckett notes, “Many Augusta householders hire their homes in the course of 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 School of Georgia, with nursing, medical, and dental colleges.”