Best Places to Retire in Georgia
Best Places to Retire in Georgia
Georgia offers a perfect blend of southern charm, mild weather, and diverse landscapes, making it an ideal retirement destination. Whether you prefer bustling cities or peaceful small towns, the Peach State has something for every retiree. Explore the best places to retire in Georgia and find your perfect community.
Why Retire in Georgia?
Retiring in Georgia comes with numerous benefits that make it an attractive choice for retirees.
Warm Climate
Georgia's mild winters and sunny summers provide comfortable weather year-round, allowing you to enjoy outdoor activities throughout the seasons.
Affordable Living
With a lower cost of living and favorable tax policies, Georgia is a budget-friendly option for retirees. Property taxes are relatively low, and there are tax exemptions for seniors.
Diverse Landscapes
From the serene mountains of North Georgia to the beautiful coastline, the state offers a variety of scenic spots for nature lovers.
Rich History and Culture
Georgia is home to historic cities like Savannah and Atlanta, offering a rich blend of history, art, and culture. Enjoy museums, theaters, and historical landmarks.
Top Cities to Retire in Georgia
Savannah
Savannah, with its historic charm and cobblestone streets, is a picturesque city that attracts many retirees. The city's vibrant arts scene, beautiful parks, and coastal proximity make it a delightful place to live.
Highlights:
- Historic district with stunning architecture
- Mild climate and coastal breezes
- Active community with numerous cultural events
Atlanta
As Georgia's capital, Atlanta offers a dynamic urban lifestyle with access to world-class healthcare, diverse dining, and entertainment options. It's a perfect blend of metropolitan convenience and southern hospitality.
Highlights:
- Top-notch medical facilities
- Rich cultural scene with museums and theaters
- Numerous parks and green spaces
Athens
Known for its vibrant music and arts scene, Athens is a lively college town with a welcoming community. It's an excellent choice for retirees who enjoy cultural activities and a youthful atmosphere.
Highlights:
- Home to the University of Georgia
- Thriving arts and music culture
- Walkable downtown with local shops and restaurants
Augusta
Augusta is famous for hosting the Masters Golf Tournament and offers a laid-back lifestyle with plenty of recreational opportunities. The city's scenic riverfront and historic sites are major attractions.
Highlights:
- Beautiful riverfront area
- Excellent golf courses and outdoor activities
- Rich history and heritage sites
Best Small Towns to Retire in Georgia
St. Marys
St. Marys, located on the coast, is known for its charming downtown and access to the Cumberland Island National Seashore. It's a peaceful and picturesque place to retire.
Highlights:
- Coastal beauty and maritime history
- Friendly and welcoming community
- Abundance of outdoor activities
Dahlonega
Nestled in the North Georgia mountains, Dahlonega is a quaint town with a rich history of gold mining. It's perfect for retirees who enjoy a slower pace and beautiful mountain views.
Highlights:
- Scenic mountain landscapes
- Historic downtown with unique shops
- Outdoor activities like hiking and wine tasting
Safest Places to Retire in Georgia
Safety is a top priority for many retirees. These Georgia towns are known for their low crime rates and secure environments.
Peachtree City
Peachtree City is a planned community with a reputation for safety and quality of life. Its extensive network of golf cart paths makes it unique and convenient.
Highlights:
- Safe and secure community
- Extensive golf cart paths and green spaces
- Family-friendly environment
Johns Creek
Johns Creek is consistently ranked as one of the safest cities in Georgia. It offers excellent amenities, top-rated schools, and a vibrant community.
Highlights:
- Low crime rates
- High-quality healthcare facilities
- Numerous parks and recreational activities
FAQs about Retiring in Georgia
Explore the Best Retirement Communities in Georgia
McLemore
Located at 2,300 feet in elevation atop the highlands of Lookout Mountain, McLemore is a private, mountaintop community surrounded on all sides by over 40,000 acres of state and national parks, historic land districts and private land trusts. The natural beauty found on Lookout Mountain, Pigeon Mountain and in the McLemore Cove below is truly stunning, and one impossible to duplicate. Here you can experience life Above the Clouds with virtually unlimited access to nature, outdoor recreation, exceptional service, and a welcoming community of like-minded families.
The McLemore experience begins with McLemore Club – a private member club featuring The Highlands Course, designed by Rees Jones & Bill Bergin. The Highlands has been recognized twice by Golf Digest on its ‘Top 100 Courses You Can Play’ list and by Links Magazine as one of the ‘Top Finishing Holes In The World’. In 2024, Golf Digest also recognized the 18th hole of The Highlands as one of the top 100 holes in the U.S.
Additional amenities include The Cairn, a 6-hole short course, an immaculately maintained 9-hole putting course, golf practice facilities, hiking trails, and The Creag, a fine dining restaurant within McLemore’s spectacular old-world style stone clubhouse.
Exciting new amenities include Cloudland, a Curio by Hilton hotel offering incredible onsite accommodations for family and guests, a fabulous spa, and multiple dining and lounge venues. Coming this Fall is The Outpost, a new 18-hole masterpiece designed by Bill Bergin and Rees Jones.
Also in the planning stages is a swim and racquet sports complex, a fitness and wellness center, and a suite of family-focused amenities including additional trails, sports fields, and much more.
Whether your family is searching for a full-time legacy home or simply a weekend getaway retreat, McLemore offers an impressive selection of residences that are certain to inspire. Choose from a phenomenal collection of over 200 home designs from McLemore’s preferred builder, AR Homes, or design your fully customized dream home from a clean sheet.
New for 2024 is the much-anticipated Golf Village, an intimate enclave near the clubhouse comprised of elegantly designed, detached single-family homes that will inspire its own unique sense of community within the gates of McLemore.
McLemore’s central location puts you within a two-hour drive of many of the Southeast’s most iconic cities, including Atlanta, Nashville, Birmingham, Huntsville, and Knoxville. Just a short and easy 35-minute drive from Lookout Mountain is downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee, widely recognized as one of the most desirable cities in the country.
McLemore is proud to offer an Above The Clouds Discovery Experience, giving families a rare opportunity to visit and enjoy ‘Member For A Stay’ privileges. Send us a message today and we’ll be happy to customize a memorable experience just for you.
Cresswind Georgia at Twin Lakes
Located northeast of Atlanta within the growing Twin Lakes master-planned community, Cresswind Georgia at Twin Lakes residents enjoy kayaking, canoeing and fishing on two pristine lakes. The gated Cresswind neighborhood features a private clubhouse with a full-time Lifestyle Director who organizes club meetings, education classes and special events. The SmartFit Training Center, an indoor pool with lap lanes and spa, a resort-style outdoor pool, tennis courts and miles of walking trails, are among the healthy lifestyle amenities. For players of the world’s fastest-growing racquet sport, the Cresswind Georgia Pickleball Center is the largest private facility in the state, with more than 40 courts and a year-round calendar of tournament play.
Choose from 15 ranch-style floorplans designed specifically for active adults. New homes range from 2- up to 4-Bedrooms and Kolter Homes’ Built Around You approach provides hundreds of structural and design personalization options to create your ideal home, including flex spaces, 2nd-floor bonus rooms and daylight basements.
While Cresswind Georgia at Twin Lakes is a relaxing retreat in the North Georgia foothills, the dynamic City of Atlanta is just a short drive away. There you’ll find attractions like exciting nightlife venues, impressive cultural arts centers, major league sports teams and the finest health care facilities in the Southeast.
Request more information below and find out if the active adult lifestyle of Cresswind Georgia at Twin Lakes is the perfect fit for you.
Cumberland Harbour
Located on a peninsula bounded by rivers and ocean we are Georgia’s Premier Coastal Community directly across from Cumberland Island National Seashore! Enjoy world-class amenities with pools, tennis, fitness center, parks and community docks. All protected by manned/gated 24/7 security for peace of mind. Located at the Southeastern-most point of Georgia we enjoy the mildest climate in the state. The metro area of Jacksonville, FL offers the finest in shopping, cultural activities, sporting events and health care that includes the Mayo Clinic. Jacksonville International Airport is 30 minutes from our frontgate.
The architecture in Cumberland Harbour is classic Low-Country Southern vernacular with wide porches, metal roofs, shiplap and vintage heart pine floors. Work with the region’s finest builders to create that one of a kind Dream Home. Choose from home sites with a wide variety of locations and price points. Our waterfront sites offer true deepwater access with the ability to put in your own private dock. Marshfront sites offer endless vistas and sunsets over the salt marshes. Our nature sites offer a live oak canopy perfect for relaxation on those Summer days. Play, Relax, Explore… Life lived better, Cumberland Harbour.
Waterways
One of the best places to live in Georgia.
Nestled amid ancient moss-draped oak hammocks, winding freshwater lagoons and the salt marshes of coastal Georgia’s low country, Waterways is a private gated community with distinctive homes and modern amenities, just 30 minutes south of historic Savannah in Richmond Hill, Georgia. This surprising low country community offers luxury homes surrounded by a protected natural landscape.
Each Waterways neighborhood is designed with its own unique character and charm. Here, you’ll find a wide selection of interconnected neighborhoods, convenient access to community amenities, and homesites with lagoon, park, and wooded views. Homesites start in the 90s, townhomes from the 300’s and homes from the 400’s.
This is ideal living.
Just outside of Savannah, on the Georgia coast, there’s a master planned community that’s rooted in nature and built with modern amenities. Here, water’s influence is the center of the lifestyle, and health and wellness are valued along with days of adventure and exploration.Here, your family can escape from the noise of the world in a place where spontaneous get-togethers, outdoor activities, and the influence of water create a new rhythm of life.
The Waterways Marina Is Now Open….
Located along Redbird Waterway, the Marina features direct access to the Intracoastal Waterway, the Great Ogeechee River, and the Atlantic Ocean. Featuring dry slip storage, a ship store, and fueling and launching facilities, Waterways residents will have all they need for endless adventure. The center of our waterfront lifestyle is found at the Marina Village, with stunning views of golden marshes, dry slip storage spaces, along with fresh water boat slips for residents. Green spaces and events lawns will complement a curated collection of quaint retail shops and casual dining. Accessible from every corner of the community via Harbor View Drive, a road with spectacular views of glistening waters, Marina Village is sure to become the heartbeat of Waterways. Choosing the perfect place for your next adventure is about so much more than finding a home. Get a feel for the Waterways lifestyle with a Discover Waterways Visit, an immersive three day, two-night getaway. Schedule Your Visit Today!
Osprey Cove
The sun rises over the marsh grass, painting the sky in watercolors and reflecting off the pond your patio overlooks. Your golf bag sits by the front door as you eagerly prepare for a day on the greens. Afterward, you’ll join your friends on a boat cruise and take in the sunset over the St. Mary’s River. This is life at Osprey Cove.
Abutting the Florida state line, Osprey Cove is a highly prestigious private golf community in the town of St. Marys, Georgia. Spread out over 1,100 acres, Osprey Cove provides diverse real estate options, with preexisting, new, and custom-built single-family homes to fit a wide range of price points. A mix of architectural styles, sizes, and layouts adds visual interest to the neighborhoods. And since many homes face the course, marsh, creeks, or lakes, scenic views are all built guaranteed.
Of course, the real star at Osprey Cove is the golf course, which Golfweek ranked in its “Top 5 in Georgia” and Golf Digest awarded a 5-star rating. The 18-hole Mark McCumber-designed championship course works with the natural characteristics of the land and river, while incorporating strategy, variety, and surprise. This golf course is truly a highlight to living at Osprey Cove.
Even if you don’t play golf, there’s plenty to do in Osprey Cove. Visit the River Club to work out, play tennis, swim in the junior Olympic pool, or join one of many fitness classes. Kayak on the river or go ocean fishing for King mackerel and cobia.
Request more information about Osprey Cove for when you’re ready to start living the coastal life.
The Landings on Skidaway Island
Welcome to The Landings.
Our vibrant, island lifestyle is made even richer by our proximity to the culture and excitement of Savannah, GA. The best of both worlds? You bet!
All the natural beauty of an island and the modern amenities of a city blended to make one of the most amazing places to live in the entire United States. You’ll always feel connected to the exhilaration of Savannah, while enjoying the privacy and security of having a home inside a gated community – better yet, a gated community on an island!
World-class, resort-style amenities, the feel of a small town and a number of distinct neighborhoods… each detail has been considered in creating a community of incomparable standards. With 40 years of national awards for golf and community excellence, The Landings on Skidaway Island offers a range of real estate opportunities fit for any lifestyle.
Life at The Landings comes with many outdoor opportunities too, including fishing in one of our many lagoons, 30 miles of nature trails, playgrounds, dog parks, not to mention year-round watersports. Set off on an adventure from either of our two full-service, deep-water marinas: Landings Harbor and Delegal Creek Marina. Both offer easy access to the Atlantic, and the Intracoastal Waterway – two ideal locations for enjoying the best maritime experience that the Southeast has to offer.
Here you’ll also find The Landings Club, our private luxury golf club offering 6 Championship golf courses, 4 Clubhouses, 7 Dining options, 31 Har-Tru tennis courts, Pickleball, Bocce, 5 pools, a 50,000 sq ft Wellness Center and much, much more. While you don’t have to join The Landings Club to live in The Landings, becoming a member of The Landings Club takes life at The Landings to a whole new level.
Discover more about The Landings on Skidaway Island by taking advantage of one of our Island Discovery Packages today! Learn more at www.thelandings.com or contact The Landings Welcome Center at 912-598-0500.
Savannah Quarters
Savannah Quarters is just minutes from historic Savannah – where beautiful homes and outstanding amenities combine with a vibrant club experience to create a unique lifestyle. Graceful, well-groomed landscaping in a beautiful Lowcountry setting creates the perfect sanctuary for residents to build their dream home. There are so many home-styles to choose from, with a selection of single-family homes, paired villas, townhomes, and estate lots.
The Club at Savannah Quarters features an 18-hole Greg Norman Signature Golf Course, a resort-style swimming pool and fitness center, tennis courts, fine dining and gracious Southern service.
The Village at Savannah Quarters features upscale shopping, local cuisine and is anchored by Publix. Enjoy all of the culture, history and the eclectic vibe of downtown Savannah and the beaches of Tybee Island and Hilton Head, and still enjoy the convenience of a community built with a modern, active lifestyle in mind. Savannah Quarters is also conveniently located close to a major airport, healthcare facilities, restaurants and hotels.
Currahee Club
Reynolds Lake Oconee
Start Your Ideal Retirement Journey in Georgia
Georgia is a fantastic state for retirees, offering a mix of vibrant cities, charming small towns, and beautiful landscapes. Whether you're looking for affordable living, safety, or a rich cultural scene, Georgia has it all. Explore the best places to retire in Georgia and find your perfect retirement community today.