{"id":41976,"date":"2024-10-29T14:44:32","date_gmt":"2024-10-29T14:44:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/?p=41976"},"modified":"2024-10-29T14:44:32","modified_gmt":"2024-10-29T14:44:32","slug":"best-places-to-retire-in-georgia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-retire-in-georgia\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Places to Retire in Georgia"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_38 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Jump Ahead To: <\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-retire-in-georgia\/#What_Are_the_Advantages_of_Retiring_to_Georgia\" title=\"What Are the Advantages of Retiring to Georgia?\">What Are the Advantages of Retiring to Georgia?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-retire-in-georgia\/#Rating_Georgia_for_Retirement_on_10_Factors\" title=\"Rating Georgia for Retirement on 10 Factors\">Rating Georgia for Retirement on 10 Factors<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-retire-in-georgia\/#Choosing_Where_to_Live_with_New_Extreme_Weather\" title=\"Choosing Where to Live with New Extreme Weather\">Choosing Where to Live with New Extreme Weather<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-retire-in-georgia\/#How_to_Check_the_Risks_of_Hurricanes_and_Floods_before_You_Buy\" title=\"How to Check the Risks of Hurricanes and Floods before You Buy\">How to Check the Risks of Hurricanes and Floods before You Buy<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-retire-in-georgia\/#5_Best_Cities_in_Georgia_for_Retirement\" title=\"5 Best Cities in Georgia for Retirement\">5 Best Cities in Georgia for Retirement<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-retire-in-georgia\/#Macon_Georgia\" title=\"Macon, Georgia\">Macon, Georgia<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-retire-in-georgia\/#Athens_Georgia\" title=\"Athens, Georgia\">Athens, Georgia<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-retire-in-georgia\/#Dahlonega\" title=\"Dahlonega\">Dahlonega<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-retire-in-georgia\/#Augusta_Georgia\" title=\"Augusta, Georgia\">Augusta, Georgia<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-retire-in-georgia\/#Gainesville_GA\" title=\"Gainesville, GA\">Gainesville, GA<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-retire-in-georgia\/#Like_What_You_See\" title=\"Like What You See?\">Like What You See?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p>Where to retire? If you\u2019re like most, you\u2019ve dreamed about where to retire, listened to friends and family, and started researching. Take your time! Visit a few destinations, and then think again.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gone are the days when you can just retire to a beach and sip iced tea. And when pretty towns in Vermont experience historic flooding, Mother Nature has shown there are hazards <em>everywhere. <\/em>So, it\u2019s worth revisiting factors to consider in your retirement choice of where to retire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ve counted 11 factors. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.census.gov\/library\/stories\/2023\/09\/why-people-move.html\">Family-related moves<\/a> is consistently ranked #1 or #2, particularly for seniors. We think Georgia scores high on the remaining 10 factors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By the way, we\u2019re <a href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/\"><em>Bellhop Movers<\/em><\/a> experts at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/ga\/atlanta\/movers\/\">local Atlanta moves<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/ga\/atlanta\/long-distance-movers\/\">long-distance moves to Atlanta<\/a> and parts all over Georgia. We can also offer <a href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/ga\/atlanta\/packing-services\/\">packing services in Atlanta<\/a> to get you started with your moves. We\u2019d love to help with an affordable, easy move to your retirement dream place in the great Peach State.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-what-are-the-advantages-of-retiring-to-georgia\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Are_the_Advantages_of_Retiring_to_Georgia\"><\/span>What Are the Advantages of Retiring to Georgia?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-rating-georgia-for-retirement-on-10-factors\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Rating_Georgia_for_Retirement_on_10_Factors\"><\/span>Rating Georgia for Retirement on 10 Factors<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>How you rank these factors can help you zero-in on your perfect home setting when considering Georgia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Cost of Living <\/strong>\u2013 Georgia ranks consistently lower than the U.S. average across website ratings. RentCafe says: 10% lower than the national average with homes 21% lower than the national average, while utilities are 13% lower. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.census.gov\/quickfacts\/fact\/table\/GA,US\/PST045223\">U.S. Census<\/a> shows the median value of a home at Georgia $245,000, $36,000 <em>lower <\/em>than the U.S. average. There are bargains to be had in many small Georgia towns.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Best Home Style for Seniors<\/strong> \u2013 Brick ramblers abound in the South and Georgia is no exception. <em>Ramblers<\/em> make it easy for seniors to age in place. <em>Brick-built<\/em> homes offer strong hurricane protection.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tax Considerations<\/strong> \u2013 <em>Tax-friendly<\/em> Georgia offers exemptions on Social Security income and hefty deductions for other types of retirement income.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Healthcare Access<\/strong> \u2013 Living near top-rated healthcare is important for seniors. Georgia ranks high with multiple retirement options offering nearby access throughout the state:<ul><li><strong>Atlanta <\/strong>&#8211; Emory Healthcare system consistently ranks among the top hospitals in the nation. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.piedmont.org\/locations\/piedmont-atlanta\/about\">Piedmont Atlanta Hospital<\/a> and Northside Hospital are noteworthy.<\/li><\/ul><ul><li><strong>Augusta <\/strong>\u2013 home to Augusta University Medical Center and <a href=\"https:\/\/doctors-hospital.net\/\">Doctors Hospital of Augusta<\/a>.<\/li><\/ul><ul><li><strong>Savannah <\/strong>&#8211; Memorial Health University Medical Center and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sjchs.org\/\">St. Joseph&#8217;s\/Candler<\/a>, known for its focus on senior health, wellness programs, and advanced care.<\/li><\/ul><ul><li><strong>Athens<\/strong> &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.piedmont.org\/locations\/piedmont-athens\/about\">Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center<\/a> offers geriatric care, plus women\u2019s and cardiac health services.<\/li><\/ul><ul><li><strong>Macon<\/strong> &#8211; Atrium Health Navicent has a verified Level I trauma center.<\/li><\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Brunswick<\/strong> \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sghs.org\/locations\/brunswick-campus\/\">Southeast Georgia Health System<\/a> offers senior related services and is highly rated.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Climate <\/strong>\u2013 Georgia\u2019s climate is \u2018southern temperate\u2019 with muggy summers and mildly cold winters (as <a href=\"https:\/\/weatherspark.com\/y\/15598\/Average-Weather-in-Atlanta-Georgia-United-States-Year-Round\">measured in Atlanta<\/a>). People \u2018escape\u2019 with vacations to the mountains or the seaside. You can choose your own preferred option. Hurricane protection should be a consideration in near sea-level communities and flooding protection in mountain towns bordering rivers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Recreation and Activities <\/strong>\u2013 There\u2019s something for everyone with world renowned golf courses, and plenty of historic parks, forests, beaches and mountains for water activities, hiking, and biking. Compared with neighboring <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"\/blog\/moving-to-florida\/\"   title=\"Florida\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\">Florida<\/a>, the range of activities and variety of terrain rank much higher in Georgia.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Social Life and Community<\/strong> \u2013 Lots to choose from! There are 28 55+ Senior Living Communities, 676 retirement communities and 159 Independent Living communities according to <a href=\"https:\/\/health.usnews.com\/best-senior-living\/independent-living\/georgia\"><em>USNews<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Lifestyle and Diversity <\/strong>\u2013 The state welcomes diverse groups and lifestyles, anchored by Atlanta\u2019s historically active gay community and international travel hub. There\u2019s a thriving \u2018foodie\u2019 culture that extends beyond Southern barbecue, as international food options take root with recent immigrants. The state boasts seven Trader Joe\u2019s Stores in greater Atlanta, plus <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"\/ga\/marietta\/movers\/\"   title=\"Marietta\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\">Marietta<\/a> and Athens.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Transportation and Accessibility<\/strong> \u2013 Excellent highway systems, Amtrak service and world-class air travel from Atlanta\u2019s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport give Georgia a high score on access.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Safety and Crime Rates<\/strong> \u2013 Georgia <a href=\"https:\/\/patch.com\/georgia\/across-ga\/ga-crime-average-ranks-among-most-least-dangerous-states-report#:~:text=Georgia%20ranked%20No.,is%20for%20drug%20abuse%20violations.\">ranks 27<sup>th<\/sup><\/a> in terms of violent crimes per capita. The most common arrest is for drug possession. The city with the highest crime rate is <a href=\"https:\/\/expresslegalfunding.com\/most-dangerous-cities-in-georgia\">College Park<\/a>, near Atlanta.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-choosing-where-to-live-with-new-extreme-weather\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Choosing_Where_to_Live_with_New_Extreme_Weather\"><\/span>Choosing Where to Live with New Extreme Weather<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Nearly all websites offering choices for best places to retire in Georgia were written before the double-whammy of hurricanes Helene and Milton. We\u2019ve intentionally <em>not<\/em> included many wonderful sea-level communities and mountain towns like Asheville, NC in narrow river valleys given their potential storm risk. Some Georgia towns (Clayton, Sandy Springs and Vinings, for example) that were recommended on other sites <em>before<\/em> Helene\u2019s historic flooding experienced infrastructure destroying flooding, isolating residents. Neighborhoods in Atlanta were not immune given the historic rainfall on already saturated soil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Please don\u2019t misunderstand us; we\u2019re not saying don\u2019t consider any mountain, riverside or seaside town for retirement. Simply be mindful of fire, flooding and wind damage when selecting a retirement property. (Yes, include forest fires). Factors to think about include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Height above sea level or river flood levels<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Slope and drainage of the property<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What\u2019s upstream or upslope that could fail<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Trees, powerlines and other nearby hazards in high winds<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Evacuation and resupply access with alternate routes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Forest fire protection (roof type, landscaping)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Plans and preparations like water, food and backup power.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Two weeks after Helene hit rural North Carolina, residents were still cut off and without power. It\u2019s worthwhile to develop a plan that includes a much longer shelter in place, wherever you choose to live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As an alternative to the seashore, could you be happy living on a lake like Lake Lanier in Gainesville, Georgia, for example? It\u2019s worth rethinking those long-held dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-dominant-color=\"353d3e\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #353d3e;\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"576\" height=\"1024\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Spanish moss in Savannah, Georgia\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-41977 lazyload\" sizes=\"(max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Savannah-Georgia-576x1024.webp\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Savannah-Georgia-576x1024.webp 576w, https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Savannah-Georgia-169x300.webp 169w, https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Savannah-Georgia-768x1365.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Savannah-Georgia-864x1536.webp 864w, https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Savannah-Georgia-1152x2048.webp 1152w, https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Savannah-Georgia-jpg.webp 1440w\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-how-to-check-the-risks-of-hurricanes-and-floods-before-you-buy\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Check_the_Risks_of_Hurricanes_and_Floods_before_You_Buy\"><\/span>How to Check the Risks of Hurricanes and Floods before You Buy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/msc.fema.gov\/portal\/search\">FEMA<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/firststreet.org\/\">First Street\u2019s<\/a> risk ratings drive insurance premiums for many properties. Look up any property address you may wish to purchase beforehand. FEMA\u2019s limits risk to flooding and are based on back data and \u2018do not reflect extreme rainfall events\u2019 like what Helene delivered. First Street\u2019s shows 5 different factors including wind, flood, fire, heat and air, and are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/weather\/2024\/10\/13\/fema-flood-maps-hurricane-helene\/\">much more \u2018aggressive\u2019<\/a> which can be a good thing if it saves your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-5-best-cities-in-georgia-for-retirement\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Best_Cities_in_Georgia_for_Retirement\"><\/span>5 Best Cities in Georgia for Retirement<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-macon-georgia\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Macon_Georgia\"><\/span>Macon, Georgia<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Macon (county population of 235,000) is overlooked by the websites that rate best places to retire in Georgia. That\u2019s good for home values and retirees. It\u2019s 80 miles from Atlanta and 160 to Savannah with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/ocmu\/index.htm\">historical parks<\/a> to walk, museums and well-organized civic events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Home Value:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zillow.com\/home-values\/32626\/macon-ga\/\">Zillow Average<\/a>: $166,000 compared to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zillow.com\/home-values\/16\/ga\/\">Georgia\u2019s<\/a> $328,000. Home values are increasingly steadily which is good news.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Great Neighborhoods:<\/strong> Wesleyan Woods, Payne and other northwest neighborhoods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Activities: <\/strong>Excellent walking trails and parks, organized events like the Skydog Musical Festival, Cherry Blossom Festival and a thriving music scene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Medical Care: <\/strong>Multiple choices are available including highly rated <a href=\"https:\/\/www.piedmont.org\/locations\/piedmont-macon-medical\/about?\">Piedmont Macon<\/a> and the larger <a href=\"https:\/\/navicenthealth.org\/\">Atrium Health Navicent<\/a>, which operates a Level 1 Trauma Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-athens-georgia\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Athens_Georgia\"><\/span>Athens, Georgia<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Because we needed to add a college town we chose the hometown of the University of Georgia. It\u2019s known for its antebellum architecture, youthful energy and good vibes. The 130,000+ city offers broad and raucous entertainment choices, thriving music, and good outdoor access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Home Value:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zillow.com\/home-values\/23534\/athens-ga\/\">Zillow Average<\/a>: $322,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Great Neighborhoods:<\/strong> Downtown offers a mix of single-family homes and condos averaging $437,000. Homes in the southwest (zip code 30606) offer a broad range of style and prices.<\/p><div class=\"getbe-middle\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; \" id=\"getbe-792865922\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/book\/service\/\" aria-label=\"The Better Way to Move\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"The Better Way to Move\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" width=\"600\" height=\"160\" style=\" max-width: 100%; height: auto;\" class=\"lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/600x160.png\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/600x160.png 600w, https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/600x160-300x80.png 300w\"><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Activities: <\/strong>Consider theStateBotanical <a href=\"https:\/\/botgarden.uga.edu\/\">Garden<\/a>, a great art museum and music, bar and restaurant venues, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.alltrails.com\/us\/georgia\/athens\">22<\/a> scenic biking and walking trails, plus ADA-accessible services at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.accgov.com\/sandycreekpark\">Sandy Creek Park<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Medical Care: <\/strong>Multiple choices including Emory Heart &amp; Vascular Center at Athens, Piedmont Athens Regional are available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-dahlonega\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Dahlonega\"><\/span>Dahlonega<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>They grow wine everywhere now and Dahlonega offers a self-driving wine tour. Gold was discovered in the first gold strike in the East, setting the town\u2019s name in history and attracting an early boom population. Its population is a smaller 7,500+ now. 65 miles north of Atlanta at an elevation of 1,500 feet the town shares Atlanta\u2019s muggy summer climate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Home Value:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zillow.com\/home-values\/24303\/dahlonega-ga\/\">Zillow Average<\/a>: $372,000<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Great Neighborhoods:<\/strong> There are desirable homes all around. Check out the homes near state highway 19. The north\/south running highway 19 is the major route connecting to Atlanta (and offers rapid evacuation in the event of climate flooding).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Activities: <\/strong>Excellent trails and parks both in town and outside including the 2.8-mile walking trail around Lake Zwerner. March offers a Chocolate crawl. Visit the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.consolidatedgoldmine.com\/\">gold mine<\/a>. The city has a well-organized <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dahlonega.org\/things-to-do\/\">guide<\/a>. Take that self-guided Dahlonega Wine Trail <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dahlonega.org\/wineries\/wine-trail\/\">tour<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Medical Care: <\/strong>A newly opened <a href=\"https:\/\/gamtnhealth.org\/dahlonega\/\">Georgia Mountains Health<\/a> offers general health services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-augusta-georgia\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Augusta_Georgia\"><\/span>Augusta, Georgia<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Just say \u2018golf\u2019 and Augusta comes to mind with over 30 courses nearby. There is plenty of greenspace around this thriving 200,000+ city. Straddling the Georgia \/ South Carolina border and halfway between Atlanta and Charleston, you have plenty of housing choices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Home Value:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zillow.com\/home-values\/32626\/macon-ga\/\">Zillow Average<\/a>: $172,000 with gradual appreciation being key.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Great Neighborhoods:<\/strong> Pepperidge on the southwest side (zip code 39006), Belair Hills (39009) is closer to golf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Activities: <\/strong>Excellent trails and parks like the New Savannah Bluff Lock &amp; Dam Park, the River Walk through downtown with its access to local restaurants, brew pubs and entertainment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Medical Care: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.augustaga.gov\/2362\/Hospitals\">Multiple choices<\/a> including <a href=\"http:\/\/augustahealth.org\/\">Augusta University Medical Ce<\/a>nter and Piedmont Hospital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-gainesville-ga\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Gainesville_GA\"><\/span>Gainesville, GA<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>90 minutes north of Atlanta this 40,000+ town bordering the man-made Lake Lanier offers a gateway to the mountains and plenty of outdoor fun. The city offers north\/south Amtrak service as an alternative transport mode. The many lakefront homes on the sprawling lake command high prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Home Value:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zillow.com\/home-values\/32626\/macon-ga\/\">Zillow Average<\/a>: $172,000 with gradual appreciation being key.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Great Neighborhoods:<\/strong> Longwood Park offers value (zip code 30501), Atlanta Botanical Garden (30501) is a desirable location with more expensive homes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Activities: <\/strong>With aFocus on the outdoors there is easy access to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Lake Lanier is a strong draw for boating and family fun. Mountain bikers can enjoy the Tumbling Creek Trails at University of North Georgia \u2013 Gainesville Campus. The downtown anchors a strong restaurant and pub scene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Medical Care: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nghs.com\/locations\/gainesville\">Northeast Georgia Health System<\/a> has multiple locations in the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-like-what-you-see\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Like_What_You_See\"><\/span><strong>Like<\/strong><strong> What <\/strong><strong>You<\/strong><strong> See?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s understandable that, as a retiree, you\u2019d like to consider new horizons. The places we offer here represent great choices in a great state we know well. If you decide to make a move to the Peach State,&nbsp;<em>get in touch<\/em>. We know some people who would love to help.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Where to retire? If you\u2019re like most, you\u2019ve dreamed about where to retire, listened to friends and family, and started researching. Take your time! Visit [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":428,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false},"categories":[1211],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v19.5 (Yoast SEO v19.10) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Where are the best places to retire in Georgia? | Bellhop<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Georgia is a great place for seniors, or even those just looking to slow down a bit. We picked out some of our favorite spots, and explain why.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-retire-in-georgia\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Best Places to Retire in Georgia\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Bellhop allows you to choose from a variety of local, long-distance, and labor-only moving services that suit your needs and budget.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-retire-in-georgia\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Bellhop\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BellhopMoving\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-10-29T14:44:32+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Atlanta-Georgia.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1066\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Nick Valentino\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@BellhopMoving\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@BellhopMoving\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Nick Valentino\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-retire-in-georgia\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-retire-in-georgia\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Nick Valentino\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/0d1c7f232d2f71fbf2cfa16235d2d2bc\"},\"headline\":\"Best Places to Retire in Georgia\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-10-29T14:44:32+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-10-29T14:44:32+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-retire-in-georgia\/\"},\"wordCount\":1708,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"articleSection\":[\"Living like a local\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-retire-in-georgia\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-retire-in-georgia\/\",\"name\":\"Where are the best places to retire in Georgia? | Bellhop\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2024-10-29T14:44:32+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-10-29T14:44:32+00:00\",\"description\":\"Georgia is a great place for seniors, or even those just looking to slow down a bit. We picked out some of our favorite spots, and explain why.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-retire-in-georgia\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-retire-in-georgia\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-retire-in-georgia\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Living like a local\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/category\/living-like-a-local\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Best Places to Retire in Georgia\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Bellhop\",\"description\":\"Moving Tips &amp; Moving Resources\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Bellhop\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/logo.svg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/logo.svg\",\"width\":148,\"height\":35,\"caption\":\"Bellhop\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/bellhopmoving\/\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/bellhopmoving\/\",\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/bellhopmoving\/\",\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BellhopMoving\/\",\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BellhopMoving\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/0d1c7f232d2f71fbf2cfa16235d2d2bc\",\"name\":\"Nick Valentino\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d972af744fec1ef673864921b6137b58?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d972af744fec1ef673864921b6137b58?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Nick Valentino\"},\"description\":\"Nick Valentino handles day-to-day operations at Bellhop, ensuring our customer's moves go smoothly. When not knee-deep in moving logistics, Nick enjoys The Bachelor, Georgia Football (Go Dawgs!) and traveling. He lives in Atlanta, GA.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/author\/nick-valentino\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Where are the best places to retire in Georgia? | Bellhop","description":"Georgia is a great place for seniors, or even those just looking to slow down a bit. We picked out some of our favorite spots, and explain why.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-retire-in-georgia\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Best Places to Retire in Georgia","og_description":"Bellhop allows you to choose from a variety of local, long-distance, and labor-only moving services that suit your needs and budget.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-retire-in-georgia\/","og_site_name":"Bellhop","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BellhopMoving\/","article_published_time":"2024-10-29T14:44:32+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1600,"height":1066,"url":"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Atlanta-Georgia.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Nick Valentino","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@BellhopMoving","twitter_site":"@BellhopMoving","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Nick Valentino","Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-retire-in-georgia\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-retire-in-georgia\/"},"author":{"name":"Nick Valentino","@id":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/0d1c7f232d2f71fbf2cfa16235d2d2bc"},"headline":"Best Places to Retire in Georgia","datePublished":"2024-10-29T14:44:32+00:00","dateModified":"2024-10-29T14:44:32+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-retire-in-georgia\/"},"wordCount":1708,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#organization"},"articleSection":["Living like a local"],"inLanguage":"en"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-retire-in-georgia\/","url":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-retire-in-georgia\/","name":"Where are the best places to retire in Georgia? | Bellhop","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#website"},"datePublished":"2024-10-29T14:44:32+00:00","dateModified":"2024-10-29T14:44:32+00:00","description":"Georgia is a great place for seniors, or even those just looking to slow down a bit. We picked out some of our favorite spots, and explain why.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-retire-in-georgia\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-retire-in-georgia\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-retire-in-georgia\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Living like a local","item":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/category\/living-like-a-local\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Best Places to Retire in Georgia"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/","name":"Bellhop","description":"Moving Tips &amp; Moving Resources","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Bellhop","url":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en","@id":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/logo.svg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/logo.svg","width":148,"height":35,"caption":"Bellhop"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/bellhopmoving\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/bellhopmoving\/","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/bellhopmoving\/","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BellhopMoving\/","https:\/\/twitter.com\/BellhopMoving"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/0d1c7f232d2f71fbf2cfa16235d2d2bc","name":"Nick Valentino","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en","@id":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d972af744fec1ef673864921b6137b58?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d972af744fec1ef673864921b6137b58?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Nick Valentino"},"description":"Nick Valentino handles day-to-day operations at Bellhop, ensuring our customer's moves go smoothly. When not knee-deep in moving logistics, Nick enjoys The Bachelor, Georgia Football (Go Dawgs!) and traveling. He lives in Atlanta, GA.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com"],"url":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/author\/nick-valentino\/"}]}},"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Atlanta-Georgia.jpg","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Atlanta-Georgia.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Nick Valentino","author_link":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/author\/nick-valentino\/"},"rbea_author_info":{"display_name":"Nick Valentino","author_link":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/author\/nick-valentino\/"},"rbea_excerpt_info":"Where to retire? If you\u2019re like most, you\u2019ve dreamed about where to retire, listened to friends and family, and started researching. Take your time! Visit [&hellip;]","category_list":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/category\/living-like-a-local\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Living like a local<\/a>","comments_num":"0 comments","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41976"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/37"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41976"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41976\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41979,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41976\/revisions\/41979"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/428"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41976"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41976"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41976"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}