Are you looking at your watch, wondering when 5 PM will finally come? Sometimes, work can be fun, fulfilling, and precisely what you hoped for when you were a kid, but other times, retirement is the best option. And if you’re looking to retire in Georgia, we have you covered.
Georgia has a town for everyone. You can live a more active retirement somewhere like Alpharetta. Or you can start taking classes at Emory, get another degree, or even learn a new language. What about going on long hikes with your dogs on the Appalachian Trail.
If you envision a retirement like that, going to Georgia is the perfect place. You’ll find beautiful beaches, mountains, iced tea, and sunshine. Georgia also has Atlanta for the city people and miles upon miles of small towns for everyone else.
To help you feel secure in your decision of where to retire in Georgia, we looked at the most recent Census and FBI data, among others, to find affordable places with plenty to do that are also safe — a retirement paradise.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The best place to retire in Georgia for 2025? Congratulations Savannah, the best place for retirees in Georgia. For those living near Atlanta, it is hardly surprising that this suburb ranks first on our list.
Most of our top ten are located near Atlanta.
Interested to see how your favorite city stacked up? Read on.
Why did Savannah take the top spot? And where are Columbus and Savannah?
For more Georgia state reading:
- Best Places To Live In Georgia
- Cheapest Places To Live In Georgia
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Georgia
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Georgia For 2025
/10
Population: 147,546
Median Income: $56,782
Median Home Price: $225,200
Median Rent: $1,302
Distance to Closest Airport: 9 miles
More on Savannah: Data
/10
Population: 24,470
Median Income: $140,480
Median Home Price: $655,900
Median Rent: $1,716
Distance to Closest Airport: 11 miles
More on Decatur: Data
/10
Population: 14,249
Median Income: $96,761
Median Home Price: $346,800
Median Rent: $906
Distance to Closest Airport: 58 miles
More on Jefferson: Data
/10
Population: 23,617
Median Income: $78,640
Median Home Price: $298,000
Median Rent: $1,194
Distance to Closest Airport: 42 miles
More on Cartersville: Data
/10
Population: 17,916
Median Income: $58,141
Median Home Price: $218,000
Median Rent: $1,199
Distance to Closest Airport: 25 miles
More on Conyers: Data
/10
Population: 27,235
Median Income: $91,497
Median Home Price: $289,000
Median Rent: $1,625
Distance to Closest Airport: 3 miles
More on Pooler: Data
/10
Population: 61,773
Median Income: $70,086
Median Home Price: $401,100
Median Rent: $1,491
Distance to Closest Airport: 22 miles
More on Marietta: Data
/10
Population: 10,762
Median Income: $53,393
Median Home Price: $160,300
Median Rent: $731
Distance to Closest Airport: 70 miles
More on Vidalia: Data
/10
Population: 23,650
Median Income: $44,021
Median Home Price: $195,100
Median Rent: $1,034
Distance to Closest Airport: 28 miles
More on Griffin: Data
/10
Population: 43,510
Median Income: $80,299
Median Home Price: $327,800
Median Rent: $1,391
Distance to Closest Airport: 26 miles
More on Newnan: Data
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Peach State for 2025
To create our ranking of the best places in Georgia to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Peach State — 620 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 10,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 72 places from across the state.
For these 72, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 72, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Savannah, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2025. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in Georgia.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In Georgia Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in Georgia goes to Savannah.
The best places to retire in Georgia are Savannah, Decatur, Jefferson, Cartersville, Conyers, Pooler, Marietta, Vidalia, Griffin, and Newnan.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Chamblee
- Warner Robins
- Lagrange
For more Georgia reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Georgia
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Savannah | 147,546 | $56,782 | $225,200 | $1,302 |
| 2 | Decatur | 24,470 | $140,480 | $655,900 | $1,716 |
| 3 | Jefferson | 14,249 | $96,761 | $346,800 | $906 |
| 4 | Cartersville | 23,617 | $78,640 | $298,000 | $1,194 |
| 5 | Conyers | 17,916 | $58,141 | $218,000 | $1,199 |
| 6 | Pooler | 27,235 | $91,497 | $289,000 | $1,625 |
| 7 | Marietta | 61,773 | $70,086 | $401,100 | $1,491 |
| 8 | Vidalia | 10,762 | $53,393 | $160,300 | $731 |
| 9 | Griffin | 23,650 | $44,021 | $195,100 | $1,034 |
| 10 | Newnan | 43,510 | $80,299 | $327,800 | $1,391 |