Gallatin, TN 55+ Active Adult Retirement Communities

Overview 

Gallatin is a suburb of Nashville in the heart of Tennessee. It is popular for its warm weather, historic downtown area, and nearby water recreation. In addition, its proximity to Nashville make it a popular destination for retirees looking for a local, tight-knit community near a major metro area.

Climate & Geography 

Located in Central Tennessee, Gallatin has a variety of landscapes, including fields, forests, hills, and lakes. The Cumberland River makes up part of the southern border of the city. 

The region’s humid subtropical climate brings warm, humid summers and cool winters with light snowfall. Residents can expect more than average rainfall, especially during the frequent thunderstorms of spring and fall. On average, there are about 209 days of sunshine a year.

Recreation, Culture, & Entertainment 

Gallatin has a bustling, vibrant downtown with ample boutique shopping, local dining, and annual community events. Residents also enjoy weekend movie nights at the restored historic Palace Theater, shopping for produce at the Gallatin Farmers Market, and visiting the Sumner County Museum.

Gallatin also has abundant outdoor recreation. Bledsoe Creek State Park has 50 campsites and over 6 miles of hiking trails. Lock 4 Park, also on the Cumberland River, has four access points, many with fishing areas, biking trails, and model airplane landing strips. In addition, Long Hollow Golf Course is the city’s public course.

Besides these local amenities, residents can travel to downtown Nashville, which is just over 30 minutes away, and has world-famous dining and shopping areas as well as concert venues.

Cost of Living & Taxes 

Gallatin’s cost of living hovers just above the national average, and this is mainly because housing and transportation are above average. Other factors like utilities and health care are close to average, while groceries are below.

Tennessee does not tax income, including Social Security, pensions, IRAs, and 401(k)s. In addition, property taxes are low. Sales taxes, on the other hand, are some of the highest in the country, and Gallatin’s rate is 9.25 percent. Groceries are taxed at a lower 4 percent.

Health Care

The Nashville metro area scores well in Gallup’s Well-Being Index, ranking in the top 40 communities in the country.

Sumner Regional Medical Center-Gallatin is the city’s only local hospital. The nearest high performing hospital according to U.S. News is TriStar Summit Medical Center in Hermitage. Nearby Nashville is home to nationally ranked Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Nashville’s other high performing hospitals include St. Thomas West Hospital, St. Thomas Midtown Hospital, St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital, and TriStar Centennial Medical Center.