Best Georgia retirement communities

Overall
If you are thinking of retiring in Georgia, you can find your best Georgia retirement communities on this website. The Peach State is one of the most popular states for active adults in retirement. It has a mild climate in winter and many towns and cities that cater to retirees. Plus plenty of the southern charm and history that is famous around the world. The Wikipedia entry for Georgia has more facts.

Bridge near Augusta, Georgia

Best retirement communities in Georgia
Active adults over 55 will find Georgia communities that will welcome them.
You can live near the Ocean on a barrier island
- like St. Simons
- a college town like Athens
- riverside in Augusta
- - lakeside Gainesville
- in a downstate, Florida-like town like Thomasville.
- a small town in the mountains like Blue Ridge.
- Griffin, which was the set for "Driving Miss Daisy"
- Bustling Atlanta is not only an interesting retirement city
- Scenic and peaceful Lake Lanier offers a laid back retirement for those who like living on or near one of the biggest lakes in the country.

Georgia is home to many active adult communities. At Topretirements.com our mission is to provide the objective facts and peer-reviewed profiles to help you choose the best community. So if Georgia is where you will retire, check out the listings on this site.

Georgia Climate
The Georgia climate is called humid-sub-tropical. Summers are hot and humid and winters are mild.

Economy and Real Estate Prices
Living in Georgia is less expensive than many other states. Per capita income at $24,558 is $1500 under the national average. Statewide, the value of a home in early 2012 averaged $105,800 (Zillow.com), well under the national average. Median home prices can differ widely by area. In Atlanta the median home selling price in 2011's 3rd quarter was $101,900 (although the range is huge with many houses selling for high prices). Cost of living in Atlanta was 90, below the national average of 100. 

Georgia Taxes for retired people
Georgia has become very tax friendly for retired people. Total state and local tax burden in Georgia is 32nd highest in the nation. Georgia top marginal income tax rate is 6.0% (which kicks in at a low $7,000), the lowest is 1%. State sales tax is 4.0%, although some cities have additional sales taxes.  Retirement income for people over 62 is exempt up to $35,000 per person, although beginning in 2012 almost all non-working income will be exempt (all will be exempt by 2016). (See Governor signs relief for retired people). Social security income is exempt. Property tax collections are below the national average. There are a variety of property tax homestead exemptions at the state and local level, based on income and age. For more information on taxes go the Georgia Department of Revenue; or for Georgia property taxes.There is no inheritance tax.

Certified Retirement Communities
Georgia does not have a certified retirement community program.

Here is more inside information on retirement living communities in the neighboring states of retire in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina. These pages provide insight and data into economic conditions, climate, top communities, and taxes.

Click on the Georgia Retirement Community reviews on the right. Or to find other state guides to retirement or more on types of retirement communities