Georgians planning to retire this year don’t have to move.
The Peach State is considered the best place to spend your post-working days.
Bankrate analyzed the best places to retire in the U.S. It did so by reviewing five categories: affordability, wellness, culture, weather and crime. The company reviewed several public and private datasets linked to retirement life. Sources included the Council for Community and Economic Research’s 2020 Cost of Living Index, Sharecare Community Well-Being Index and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. U.S. Census Bureau data provided arts, entertainment and recreation establishments per capita, restaurants per capita and adults 65 and older per capita.
“We acknowledge there’s plenty of subjectivity in choosing a place to live in retirement,” Bankrate said. “If you own a paid-off home in a high-cost area like Boston or San Francisco, maybe affordability isn’t a priority for you. And, of course, not everyone likes the sweltering summers of the Sun Belt states that populate the top of our rankings.”
Those used to hot summers will have no problem in Georgia. The state’s overall score was 17.25. It came in at No. 3 for affordability, bested only by Tennessee and Oklahoma at Nos. 1 and 2 respectively. Georgia is No. 4 for weather, with Arizona, Kentucky, West Virginia taking spots 1-3.
“Why should retirees pull the moving van off Interstate 75 and unpack in Georgia? Affordability is one big selling point. The state combines a low cost of living and a light tax burden to rank No. 3 in affordability,” Bankrate said. “Weather is another strong point. The state has an average annual temperature of 64 degrees, fifth-warmest in the nation. Earthquakes are rare, and tornado risk is about average. The one downside is hurricanes — Georgia’s small coastline puts it at risk of tropical cyclones.”
The Peach State was No. 32 for wellness and No. 29 in crime. It ranked the lowest in all categories for culture at No. 41. Census data show it has one of the country’s lowest percentages of residents 65 and over.
As for where exactly you can retire in Georgia, some areas are a cut above the rest.
Union County offers plenty of activities for older adults. Fishing and golfing are among the activities retirees can enjoy. Stacker, which named the county the best place to retire in Georgia, said “Union County promises both adventure and solitude within its mountain community borders, which contain Georgia’s highest peak, Brasstown Bald.”
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