Are you looking at your watch, wondering when 5 PM will finally come? Sometimes, work can be fun, fulfilling, and precisely what you hoped for when you were a kid, but other times, retirement is the best option. And if you’re looking to retire in Georgia, we have you covered.
Georgia has a town for everyone. You can live a more active retirement somewhere like Alpharetta. Or you can start taking classes at Emory, get another degree, or even learn a new language. What about going on long hikes with your dogs on the Appalachian Trail.
If you envision a retirement like that, going to Georgia is the perfect place. You’ll find beautiful beaches, mountains, iced tea, and sunshine. Georgia also has Atlanta for the city people and miles upon miles of small towns for everyone else.
To help you feel secure in your decision of where to retire in Georgia, we looked at the most recent Census and FBI data, among others, to find affordable places with plenty to do that are also safe — a retirement paradise.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Georgia For 2024
The best place to retire in Georgia for 2024? Congratulations Decatur, the best place for retirees in Georgia. For those living near Atlanta, it is hardly surprising that this suburb ranks first on our list.
Most of our top ten are located near Atlanta.
Interested to see how your favorite city stacked up? Read on.
Why did Decatur take the top spot? And where are Atlanta and Columbus?
For more Georgia state reading:
- Best Places To Live In Georgia
- Cheapest Places To Live In Georgia
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Georgia
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Georgia For 2024
/10
Population: 24,421
Median Income: $129,992
Median Home Price: $309,943
Median Rent: $1,611
Distance to Closest Airport: 11 miles
More on Decatur: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 13,496
Median Income: $95,850
Median Home Price: $376,132
Median Rent: $1,059
Distance to Closest Airport: 58 miles
More on Jefferson: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 19,010
Median Income: $79,865
Median Home Price: $410,964
Median Rent: $1,418
Distance to Closest Airport: 13 miles
More on Fayetteville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 11,694
Median Income: $39,716
Median Home Price: $152,646
Median Rent: $717
Distance to Closest Airport: 116 miles
More on Douglas: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 10,732
Median Income: $47,124
Median Home Price: $169,711
Median Rent: $641
Distance to Closest Airport: 70 miles
More on Vidalia: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 23,103
Median Income: $75,407
Median Home Price: $304,822
Median Rent: $1,096
Distance to Closest Airport: 42 miles
More on Cartersville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 61,387
Median Income: $67,589
Median Home Price: $452,424
Median Rent: $1,372
Distance to Closest Airport: 22 miles
More on Marietta: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 26,264
Median Income: $89,812
Median Home Price: $340,383
Median Rent: $1,550
Distance to Closest Airport: 3 miles
More on Pooler: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 15,243
Median Income: $29,781
Median Home Price: $227,011
Median Rent: $838
Distance to Closest Airport: 46 miles
More on Brunswick: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 33,499
Median Income: $75,414
Median Home Price: $478,892
Median Rent: $1,460
Distance to Closest Airport: 42 miles
More on Canton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Peach State for 2024
To create our ranking of the best places in Georgia to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Peach State — 620 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 10,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 73 places from across the state.
For these 73, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 73, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Decatur, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2024. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in Georgia.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In Georgia Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in Georgia goes to Decatur.
The best places to retire in Georgia are Decatur, Jefferson, Fayetteville, Douglas, Vidalia, Cartersville, Marietta, Pooler, Brunswick, and Canton.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Monroe
- Hinesville
- Warner Robins
For more Georgia reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Georgia
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Decatur | 24,421 | $129,992 | $309,943 | $1,611 |
| 2 | Jefferson | 13,496 | $95,850 | $376,132 | $1,059 |
| 3 | Fayetteville | 19,010 | $79,865 | $410,964 | $1,418 |
| 4 | Douglas | 11,694 | $39,716 | $152,646 | $717 |
| 5 | Vidalia | 10,732 | $47,124 | $169,711 | $641 |
| 6 | Cartersville | 23,103 | $75,407 | $304,822 | $1,096 |
| 7 | Marietta | 61,387 | $67,589 | $452,424 | $1,372 |
| 8 | Pooler | 26,264 | $89,812 | $340,383 | $1,550 |
| 9 | Brunswick | 15,243 | $29,781 | $227,011 | $838 |
| 10 | Canton | 33,499 | $75,414 | $478,892 | $1,460 |