8 Best Towns In Georgia To Retire Comfortably

Georgia is one of the best places in the US for a comfortable retirement. For one, the state’s cost of living is affordable, with home prices averaging around $336,000, which is below the national average according to Zillow. This makes it less expensive compared to nearby states like Florida and Virginia. Moreover, Georgia has a laid-back lifestyle, a warm and mild climate, zero tax on Social Security, tax relief for people 62 years or older, and endless recreation. All of these and more are best enjoyed in the small towns listed below. In these towns, retirees will enjoy home prices even lower than the state average, according to Zillow, alongside calmer atmospheres, easy access to medical facilities, and exciting activities. From Forsyth to Darien, here are the eight best towns in Georgia for a comfortable retirement.

Clarksville

Clarkesville is a small town with just below 2,000 people, ideal for a pleasurable retirement. Although the average home price is $371,000, the town’s low crime rate, natural beauty, rural feel, and abundance of recreational facilities more than make up for the slightly higher price. Here, retirees will have the Habersham Community Theatre to enjoy shows, and the Moccasin Creek State Park for exciting outdoor activities, as the park boasts nature trails and a creek for trout fishing. Those who love cars will always enjoy visiting the Miles Through Time Automotive Museum as its collection includes over 100 vehicles, reflecting more than 100 years of automotive history. Retiring in Clarkesville also means being able to explore the oldest operating pottery gallery in Georgia at will. Known as the Mark of the Potter, this beautiful establishment on a river opened in 1969 and features lots of pottery to delight everyone. In addition, Clarkesville is home to the Old Towne Pub, one of the best in Georgia, with a great atmosphere, delicious meals, drinks, and frequent live music performances.

Adairsville

Adairsville is a beautiful town near Atlanta, populated by around 4,000 people and perfect for retirement. For a town in proximity to one of America’s famous cities, Adairsville is affordable, with homes selling for a price of $299,717. This is despite the town’s attractions and excellent facilities like the Atrium Health Floyd Primary Care, which is considered one of the best in the country. Retiring in such a town is sure to be fulfilling and full of fun activities, like exploring the Adairsville Depot History Museum and Welcome Center. Located in an 1847 railroad depot, this museum is a great stop to learn about the town's history, including its role in the Civil War and the establishment and growth of the Dixie Highway. Elsewhere, the Veterans Memorial Park is always a cool place to enjoy leisure walks, picnics, and recreational activities, like volleyball.

Adairsville is just five miles from the Barnsley Resort, one of the most beautiful vacation spots in America. Retirees will love this 3,000-acre resort nestled on the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, as it has lots of cool features, elegantly designed villas and cottages, a 10-acre lake, an 18-hole golf course, historic gardens, ruins of a 19th-century Italianate villa, and farm-to-table cuisine. The resort even has a world-class spa, ranked as one of the best in the US, for its incredible services, which include body treatments, facials, and massages.

Forsyth

Forsyth is a comfortable nest for retirees where the excuse of affordability is taken out of the way, with the average home price sitting at $312,000. When it comes to recreation, Forsyth has historic and outdoor attractions to delight seniors. First off, the town is home to the Black History Museum, one of the best places in the country to learn about African American history. This museum has artifacts about African Americans in various fields, such as the military and medicine, with some of the artifacts dating back to the 1800s. Retirees who love the outdoors will appreciate the Rum Creek Wildlife Management Area, as it offers opportunities for hunting, camping, fishing, and bird watching. Forsyth is also near more exciting attractions, like the Hummingbird Farms, where seniors will enjoy seasonal fruit picking. Meanwhile, the Monroe County Hospital and other healthcare facilities are in town to cater to the health needs of retirees.

Decatur

Decatur is the ideal destination for retirees desiring a quieter experience near a big city with affordable housing. Populated by around 24,000 people, this town’s average home cost is $298,000, which is quite a steal considering that it is just six miles from downtown Atlanta. The town even hosts the world-class Emory Decatur Hospital, which offers excellent emergency services.

Retirees in Decatur will also enjoy events like the Decatur Annual Arts Festival and the Decatur Wine Festival. Plus, attractions such as Woodland Gardens and Legacy Park are in town for recreation. At the Woodland Gardens, seniors can explore native plants and over 30 species of trees, while the Legacy Park has meadows, wetlands, forests, a swimming pool, and sports facilities for more adventures. Similarly, Glendale Park is in town to further entertain retirees with sports facilities, a swimming pool, a nature trail, and picnic areas. As for retirees who love cooking, the Dekalb Farmers Market is open daily to offer all necessary food items, from vegetables to fresh seafood and meat, fruits, olive oil, eggs, and more.

Darien

Darien is a coastal town on a bluff overlooking the Darien River, housing just over 1,500 people, a small population that helps keep it tranquil. Additionally, the town has an average home price of $265,300, one of the lowest in the state, and a reliable healthcare solution like Golden Home Care Services. All of these make the town one of the most comfortable places to retire in Georgia, but there’s more. Darien will help retirees stay active with its abundance of attractions. For starters, the town’s Waterfront Park has a dock for fishing on the Darien River, a pavilion, and picnic tables under live oaks and cabbage palms where one can relax and people-watch.

At the nearby Fort King George State Historic Site, retirees can step back in time to the era of British America. Built in 1721 on the Altamaha River, this fort served as the southernmost outpost of the British Empire in America until 1732. Today, guided tours are offered to explore the historic structures on the site, which include a blacksmith shop, guardhouse, and barracks, and a small museum with exhibits highlighting the cultural history of the area from the 18th century. Furthermore, seniors will love to spend idle evenings at the Waterfront Wine & Gourmet, a chic restaurant overlooking the Darien River, with a wide variety of wine, craft beers, and gourmet food.

Clayton

In the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the serene town of Clayton stands as one of the best places in the country to retire for many reasons. First, the town boasts a small population of 2,000 people, with around 20% of that population at 65 years or older, and reliable healthcare centers such as MedLink Rabun and Mountain Lakes. Secondly, Clayton is a haven for recreation, especially with the Black Rock Mountain State Park nearby. This park is a cool place to hike, with around 11 miles of trails, some leading to overlooks offering breathtaking sights of mountains and greenery. Additionally, the park has picnic areas and Black Rock Lake for fishing, kayaking, and canoeing.

Retirees who love art will enjoy exploring Clayton’s galleries, especially the Main Street Gallery, which specializes in contemporary folk art. The gallery’s collection includes paintings, handmade jewelry, unique accessories, and furniture, among others. When it comes to dining, Clarksville has several amazing food establishments, like the Hush Cuban Kitchen and Bar, always ready to serve satisfying dishes. Meanwhile, average home prices in Clayton stand at $365,000, which is still below the national average, even though it is above the state average.

Dahlonega

Dahlonega’s average home price of $381,000 may be a bit above the state average, but retirees who overlook this home price will be glad they did, as the town is full of things to see and do. Besides, it boasts the amazing Northeast Georgia Medical Center for prompt healthcare services. Retirees who love history will be fascinated by the Dahlonega Gold Museum, which showcases the town's mining history through an educational film, artifacts from the area’s gold rush that began in 1829, and other gold relics, including nuggets, coins, and panning equipment. Notably, the museum is situated in the historic Lumpkin County Courthouse, Georgia’s oldest existing courthouse, which was built in 1836.

Just outside the Dahlonega Gold Museum, retirees will find the popular Dahlonega Square, home to gift shops, art galleries, restaurants, and lots of wine-tasting rooms, as the town is the official Wine Tasting Capital of Georgia. Seniors are invited to visit one of these tasting rooms, like the Dahlonega Tasting Room, to taste or purchase wines, home decor, and wine-related gifts. For retirees who love the arts and entertainment, the town’s Holly Theatre constantly hosts concerts and community events. Elsewhere, Chestatee Wildlife Preserve and Zoo invites animal-loving seniors to admire over 100 exotic and native animals, including rare white Siberian tigers, zebras, leopards, and more.

St. Marys

The charming small town of St. Marys is a delight for retirees, as it hosts the Magnolia Manor St. Marys, one of the state's foremost retirement homes, while home prices sit at a decent $311,300. The town also sits beautifully on the north bank of the St. Mary's River and has several exciting attractions to keep retirees entertained. The St. Mary's Waterfront Park is just one such attraction, featuring a riverwalk, picnic areas, and a boat launch for kayaking and canoeing adventures on the river.

Even more exciting, St. Mary's is the gateway to Cumberland Island, Georgia’s largest barrier island, featuring maritime forests, pristine beaches, and wide marshes. Retirees can always take ferries from the waterfront docks in St. Marys to Cumberland Island to tour its ruins and mansions, hike through tree canopies, and relax on the beach. Also, the Cumberland Island National Seashore Museum is in town to further delight retirees with artifacts and exhibits on the people who have lived on the island, including Native Americans and African Americans. The museum’s collection also includes exhibits on the War of 1812.

Conclusion

Retirement in Georgia is one of the best decisions anyone can make in America. Jimmy Carter, the 39th US President, and others who have retired to the state can attest to that. While the list is endless, these towns in Georgia are particularly ideal for a comfortable retirement away from the noise, rigors, and high costs of living in big cities and towns across America. From Darien and St. Mary's to Clayton and Forysth, a blissful world awaits, one filled with other seniors amid naturally alluring features and historic elements, all aimed at making retirement as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.