10 Best Places to Retire in Georgia

Retirement can be the time to take on a new adventure, to start a new exciting period of your life and all this can kick off with you moving to a new state, to a new city, and to a new house, which is why we are going to present you 10 best places to retire in Georgia.

In the southeast area of the United States, you can find Georgia, a true southern state, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, as well as Florida, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee and North Carolina. Part of the state is covered in mountains, namely the Blue Ridge Mountains. There’s also the Piedmont that stretches from the mountains to the Fall Line. Plenty of rivers cross the state and there’s always the Ocean nearby, with plenty of beaches to enjoy. The climate in Georgia is humid subtropical with moderate to heavy precipitations, depending on the altitude and the time of the year. Alternatively, if you’re interested in another state, you might want to read up on the 10 best places to retire in Delaware.

Georgia is home to over 10.2 million citizens spread over 59,425 square miles, ranking as the 24^th state after area and the 8^th after population. The capital city is Atlanta, which is also the largest metro in the entire state.

For our list today, we took a look at the all the state’s counties, taking into consideration those that have at least 20,000 citizens. Then, we checked out the median home price, the average commute time (included as the general state of traffic, since pensioners use the same roads as the commuters to go about their daily activities, albeit not necessarily at the same time), the cost of living index, the crime index and the number of doctors per 100,000 citizens, getting the data from Sperling’s Best Places which mixes up information from various governmental sources, including the Census Bureau. We handed out points and came up with a final scoring, but not before granting extra points to those counties that have more doctors per 100K than the state’s average since this is such an important issue.

Without further ado, here are the 10 best places to retire in Georgia.

10. Fulton

Score: 13

Median home price: $165,100

Cost of living index: 102.1

Average commute time: 26.87

Crime index: 70

Doctors per 100K: 472

Home to over 1 million people, Fulton County is one of the most populated in the entire state. That makes sense since it’s Georgia’s county seat and it is home to Atlanta in a 90 percent proportion, with the other 10 percent lying in DeKalb County.

The county spreads over 534 square miles and it’s situated in the upper area of the state. A good portion of the territory is water, with the Etowah River and the Chattahoochee River as prime examples. Since there are so many cities in Fulton County, there are plenty of activities to choose from if you are seeking for entertainment. At the same time, there are plenty of nature areas to enjoy if you so desire.

9. Fayette

Score: 13

Median home price: $201,300

Cost of living index: 108.1

Average commute time: 30.25

Crime index: 29

Doctors per 100K: 275

Fayette County is located in the north central area of Georgia and it is home to over 106,000 people. It spreads over 199 square miles, out of which 2.5 percent is water, which means there are plenty of opportunities for those who enjoy fishing, swimming or simply having a picnic by the side of the water.

The median home price in the area is a bit over $201,000, but that’s probably due to all the mansions peppering the county. After all, the list of notable residents includes the likes of Andre 3000, Zac Brown, Cee-Lo Green, Evander Holyfield and a slew of pro wrestlers.

It should also be mentioned that the crime index here is 29, with 1 being the lowest and safest, and the number of doctors per 100K residents is 275.

8. Emanuel

Score: 14

Median home price: $69,000

Cost of living index: 80.2

Average commute time: 24.41

Crime index: 60

Doctors per 100K: 90

Over 22,000 people call Emanuel County home. Spreading over 690 square miles, Emanuel County is located in the east central area of Georgia. There is plenty of nature to enjoy if you want this and there’s certainly enough elbow room for when you’re seeking for the rowdiness of the downtown areas, whether it’s for a bite to eat or some kind of entertainment.

The median home price in the area is $69,000, so it’s more than affordable, while the cost of living index is a great 80.2, well below the national average. The crime index is 60, which is not ideal, but it’s not anything to be too scared about either. There are also 90 doctors per 100K people, which is a bit low.

7. Columbia

Score: 14

Median home price: $152,100

Cost of living index: 95.6

Average commute time: 24.35

Crime index: 35

Doctors per 100K: 520

On the Atlantic coast, in the central area of the state, you’ll find Columbia County, home to over 133,000 people. Spreading over 308 square miles, the place isn’t extremely crowded, so there’s plenty of room to breathe. Out of the total area of the county, nearly 6 percent is water, so if you love specific activities, including fishing and swimming, you’re in luck. There are also plenty of restaurants, museums and other historic landmarks to visit.

The median home price here is just north of $152,000, while the cost of living index is 95.6, below the national average. The commute time is also quite decent, sitting at over 24 minutes. The crime index in Columbia County is 35, which is great, while the number of doctors per 100K residents is the second largest in the state – 520.

6. Chattooga

Score: 14

Median home price: $67,900

Cost of living index: 80.4

Average commute time: 22.83

Crime index: 45

Doctors per 100K: 31

Situated in the northern part of Georgia, Chattooga County is home to over 26,000 people, spread over 314 square miles. In part, Chattooga is home to the Chattahoochee National Forest, where you can go enjoy some time out in nature, hiking, swimming or fishing in the rivers and streams.

The median home price in this county is near $68,000, but even that’s a more than an acceptable price for a house. The cost of living index is a great 80.4, well below the national average.  The crime index is at 45, which isn’t excellent, but it’s not that bad either. The number of doctors per 100,000 residents is a bit low, sitting at 31.

5. Oconee

Score: 15

Median home price: $239,800

Cost of living index: 112.7

Average commute time: 23.34

Crime index: 29

Doctors per 100K: 317

There are over 32,000 people living in Oconee, a county situated in the northern area of Georgia. Out of the 186 square miles of the county, over 1 percent is water, which makes sense since it sits entirely in the Upper Oconee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River. When it comes to nature, there is also the National Forest with the same name, which you can enjoy when you feel like hiking.

The median home price here is close to $240,000 which is a bit expensive, while the cost of living index is 112.7. The crime index is 29, which is quite acceptable, while the number of doctors per 100,000 residents is 317.

4. Worth

Score: 17

Median home price: $68,700

Cost of living index: 79.8

Average commute time: 26.82

Crime index: 47

Doctors per 100K: 28

Over 21,000 people live in Worth County, Georgia, which spreads over 575 square miles. Located in the south-west area of the state, Worth County is included in the Albany, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area and it is also called the “Peanut Capital” since it has such a massive industry.

The population density here is rather low, which means there’s plenty of elbow room. The towns here are small and they don’t have a lot of people, so there’s that small-city vibe about them. If you’re looking for the hustle and bustle of the big cities, this isn’t the perfect county for you. The median home price in the area is below $67,000, while the cost of living index is 79.8. On the downside, the crime index is 47, which isn’t too great, but not too terrible either, and there are only 28 doctors per 100,000 people.

3. Upson

Score: 20

Median home price: $60,900

Cost of living index: 78.6

Average commute time: 22.43

Crime index: 54

Doctors per 100K: 129

In the central area of Georgia sits Upson County, home to over 27,000 people. Out of the 328 square miles, over 1.3 percent is covered in water, so if you’re looking to enjoy some time out in nature on the shore of a river, then that’s perfectly doable. Fishing and swimming are also in the books if you feel like it.

Houses go for nearly $61,000 in this county, so the price is more than accessible if you’re looking to buy. The crime index is a bit high, namely 54, with 1 being ideal, but, on the other hand, there are 129 doctors per 100,000 residents so your medical needs should be met accordingly.

2. Dougherty

Score: 21

Median home price: $77,600

Cost of living index: 81.4

Average commute time: 17.7

Crime index: 84

Doctors per 100K: 282

In the southwest area of Georgia sits Dougherty County, home to over 94,000 people spread over 335 square miles, making for a higher population density than in other nearby counties. Nearly 2 percent of the territory is water, including Flint River.

Houses go for $77,600 in average, but depending on how deep your pockets go you can find them more or less expensive. The cost of living index is 81.4, well below the national average, which is, obviously, great news. The crime index is quite high – 84, so you should be on the lookout if you move here. On the other hand, there are 282 doctors per 100,000 people here, so your medical needs should be covered.

1. Richmond

Score: 26

Median home price: $73,400

Cost of living index: 80.2

Average commute time: 20.15

Crime index: 76

Doctors per 100K: 548

With over 200,000 people living here, Richmond is one of the most populated areas in Georgia. The county spreads over 329 square miles, so the population density is 618 people per square mile. Richmond County is in the Middle Savannah River sub-basin, so if you’re looking to spend some time out on the water, that is more than doable. Since the county includes some more populated cities, there are also plenty of entertainment options if you’re looking for them.

The median home price is over $73,000, which isn’t too terrible. The cost of living index is, once more, some 20 points below the national average. At the same time, Richmond County is home to 548 physicians per 100,000 residents, which is the highest doctor density in the entire state. This, along with many other issues makes Richmond County the top option among the 10 best places to retire in Georgia.