When you think of places to retire, Georgia may not be at the top of the list, but that might change soon. A Georgia retirement offers a unique landscape featuring everything from the Appalachian Mountains in the north to the coastal plains of the south, and diverse opportunities for recreation and entertainment, along with a mild climate.
With more than 90 active adult communities throughout the state, we’ve broken down two of the most populated cities and picked 10 of the best places to retire in Georgia.
Atlanta
Along with holding the title as the most populous city in Georgia, Atlanta is also the state capital. The city and its suburbs have plenty to do and see indoors and outdoors, so retirees will know they can enjoy an active and fun retirement.
Atlanta Climate
Due to the city’s proximity to Appalachian Mountains, Gulf of Mexico, and the Atlantic Ocean, residents of Atlanta experience all four seasons with moderate summers and mild winters.
Atlanta Cost of Living
The cost of living in Atlanta is higher than the state and national average, with housing being the main factor for the difference. There is an 8.9 percent sales tax in the city.
Atlanta Health Care
The top five hospitals in the state are located in Atlanta with a total of 10 nationally ranked adult specialties, 12 high performance rankings in adult specialties, and 45 high performance rankings in procedures and conditions. Emory University Hospital ranked as the No. 1 hospital in Atlanta and Georgia with national rankings in nine adult specialties and high performance rankings in two adult specialties and nine procedures and conditions.
Atlanta Culture
There is a wide variety of things to do in Atlanta. Active adults can explore the 3,000 acres of park land, including the site of the 1996 Summer Olympics at Centennial Park, watch a live production at one of the many performance theatres, catch a game at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and so much more.
Active adults who enjoy outdoor recreation can hike, bike, and fish at a number of parks and mountains around the city. Sweetwater Creek State Park, Freedom Park, Stone Mountain Park, Piedmont Park, and Chattahoochee River National Park Area area are just a few parks within the Atlanta area. For organized marathons and races, the Atlanta Track Club hosts 30 events throughout the year across the metro Atlanta area.
With such a rich, expansive it’s no surprise that Atlanta has various museums such as the Center for Civil and Human Rights, Jimmy Carter Library and Museum, Atlanta History Center, and Delta Flight Museum.
Savannah
Savannah is a part of the second most populated metro area in Georgia. Its coastal setting and historic buildings and cobbled streets provide a quaint and relaxing environment for retirees. It’s a great option for those who want to live by the beach and be engulfed in southern living.
Savannah Climate
The city is naturally bordered by the Savannah River and the Atlantic Ocean. Savannah sits on the coastal plain with flat to low marshland to the north and east, and the south is split between woods and swamplands. Residents experience humid, warm to hot temperatures throughout the year.
Savannah Cost of Living
The cost of living in Savannah is lower than the state and national average. There is a 7 percent sales tax in the city.
Savannah Health Care
There are nine hospitals in Savannah with a total of nine high performance rankings in procedures and conditions and one adult specialty. Memorial Health University Medical Center is ranked No. 9 in Georgia, and high performing in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, colon cancer surgery, heart failure, hip and knee replacements.
Savannah Culture
Residents of Savannah have various options for recreation in the city from learning about history to strolling along the Savannah River.
The Historic District is located in downtown Savannah and offers active adults the chance to visit museums, monuments, and 18th-century homes. Forsyth Park is within the Historic District and provides 30 acres of trees, flowers, and other foliage. The park hosts open-air concerts and weekly farmers markets.
Top Retirement Communities in Georgia
1. The Landings on Skidaway Island – Savannah, GA
Low $200s – Low $2Ms
Located in Savannah on the Intracoastal Waterway, The Landings on Skidaway Island is a private-gated neighborhood that offers a small-town charm, despite having a variety of home designs that span across 4,596 acres. The world-class amenities include six championship golf courses, four clubhouses and restaurants, a fitness and wellness center, two indoor pools, three outdoor pools, 34 tennis courts, 40 miles of walking trails, and two marinas. Residents also enjoy more than 100 clubs, activities, and groups that they can join. There are eight neighborhoods in the community with homes starting around 1,500 square feet.
2. Sun City Peachtree – Griffin, GA
Low $200s – Mid $300s
Located 35 miles south of Atlanta, Sun City Peachtree makes the list for one of the best places to retire in Georgia. Sun City Peachtree is close enough to the city for active adults to enjoy all it has to offer, yet far enough away to to create the feeling of seclusion.
The community has a vast amount of activities and clubs to keep residents busy and residents enjoy the long list of amenities, including the 16 athletic courts, state-of-the-art fitness center, arts and crafts studio, and a 45,000 square-foot clubhouse.
3. Soleil Laurel Canyon – Canton, GA
High $200s – Mid $500s
Soleil Laurel Canyon is a gated community perfect for active adults interested in living in a community with lots to do. With nearly 1,000 homes in the community, there are four collections for residents to choose from, all starting with two bedrooms, two baths, and two-car garages.
The unique amenities include a 28,000 square-foot craftsman-style Grand Clubhouse, massage rooms, golf course, ballroom with stage, and more. Activities and clubs are also offered to residents such as a book club, a cooking club, wine socials, bridge, Mahjong, and more.
4. Cresswind at Lake Lanier – Gainesville, GA
Mid $200s – Mid $600s
Residents of Cresswind at Lake Lanier enjoy the warm, friendly community of neighbors, and the many activities that fill their days. The large community has over 900 homes with eight versatile floor plans.
Residents interested in various hobbies or learning a new skill have a variety to choose from with 43 clubs, classes, and activities, and 31 amenities, including a state-of-the-art fitness center, pickleball courts, an outdoor amphitheater, and lagoon-style pool.
5. Cresswind Peachtree City – Peachtree City, GA
High $200s – Mid $400s
Located 25 min from Downtown Atlanta, active adults who choose to make Cresswind Peachtree City their home will enjoy the rolling woodlands of Northern Georgia and resort-style amenities of the community.
It features multiple athletic courts, state-of-the-art fitness center, ballroom and theater, and an arts and crafts studio, along with many other amenities. There are plans to expand the community to 650 homes with three model homes.
6. Village at Deaton Creek – Hoschton, GA
High $200s – Mid $500s
Located in the northeast suburbs of Atlanta, Village at Deaton Creek is a guard gated community with no shortage of activities for residents to enjoy. The community has a two-story 35,000 clubhouse, a resort-style pool, and a long, diverse list of activities, clubs, and classes.
With the close proximity of the Blue Ridge Mountains, residents love the relaxing scenery.
7. Del Webb at Lake Oconee – Greensboro, GA
Low $300s – High $700s
Del Webb at Lake Oconee in Greensboro is one of the few Del Webb communities in the country located on a navigable lake. Situated 75 miles east of Atlanta, this 55+ community combines rural charm with convenient access to the culture and entertainment of the city. Residents enjoy a 21,000 square-foot clubhouse and amenity center with access to all of the wonderful recreation offered by Lake Oconee, such as fishing, boating, sailing, water skiing, and kayaking.
Other amenities include four tennis courts, two pickleball courts, horseshoe pits, and a croquet field. There’s also a softball field, dog park, and miles of scenic walking and hiking trails. The clubhouse has a fitness center, indoor lap pool, aerobics studio, arts and crafts studio, ballroom, library, catering kitchen, billiard tables, and a card room. Home to more than 800 households, Del Webb at Lake Oconee offers 12 floor plans including duplex villas and single-family homes.
8. Grove Park – Marietta, GA
Mid $200s – Low $300s
Grove Park is a 55+ community in Marietta that has 120 attached and low-maintenance homes. Amenities include the well-decorated clubhouse that has an exercise room, a gathering room, and card tables. Outside is a swimming pool and a patio, as well as an outdoor spa. Though this community is small, it’s close-knit, with neighbors mingling and organizing social events or casual get-togethers to meet new people. And thanks to the homeowners’ association, you don’t have to worry about exterior home chores and lawn care, as these things are taken care of for you.
9. Cedar Crest Village – Acworth, GA
High $200s – Low $300s
Cedar Creek Village is a low-maintenance, 55+ community in Acworth with 104 attached, English Cottage style homes. A clubhouse is the central hub of the community, and has a gathering room, a game room, and a catering kitchen. Outside, there is an outdoor eating area and a pavilion. There is also a fitness center so residents can always stay active. Cedar Creek Village is a great 55+ community for active adults looking to downsize and be near Atlanta.
10. The Gardens of Harmony North – Canton, GA
High $200s – Low $400s
Located in Canton, The Gardens of Harmony North is a charming community within the master-planned neighborhood of Harmony on the Lakes. Just outside of the greater Atlanta metropolitan area, this community has 40 single-family homes. Each model is loaded with features like granite kitchen countertops, screened back porches, spacious family rooms, and an elegant owner’s suite with a walk-in closet.
Amenities include a spacious clubhouse with multi-purpose rooms, as well as an outdoor pool, eight lighted tennis courts, and a basketball court. Bradshaw Lake is just across the road, with plenty of green space and a lakeside gazebo. You also have access to the larger Harmony on The Lakes community, which includes walking trails, an observation park with amphitheater and boat dock, and a 30-acre lake for fishing, canoeing, and sailing.
