The north metro Atlanta community already knows what many retirees have yet to discover, which is that Atlanta is a top place for people looking to make the most of life in later years.
Recently, Atlanta was named the Top Place to Retire, according to Bankrate, an online editorial site dedicated to guiding consumers through life’s financial journey. According to Bankrate’s study, Georgia was followed by Florida, Tennessee, Missouri, and Massachusetts.
To create the list, Bankrate weighed the following broad categories including affordability, wellness, culture, weather, and crime. Let’s have a look at some of the categories and the reasons many retirees are choosing to call Atlanta their new home.
Affordability
Home prices are a huge selling point. The median home price in the Atlanta metro area was just $279,300 during the first quarter of 2021, compared with $319,200 nationally and $325,000 in the Orlando metro area, according to the National Association of Realtors.
The cost of living is a full seven percent below the U.S. average, and Social Security income is exempt from state taxes in Georgia. Additionally, for most retirees 62 or older, many forms of retirement income, like pensions, annuities, and rental income, are not taxed.
For people looking to purchase a new home, there are property tax breaks for homeowners aged 62 and older who earn $10,000, including exemption from school taxes. Combined with low state sales taxes and an income tax rate of around five percent, Atlanta makes for a favorable financial environment.
Wellness and Exercise
For those who love the outdoors, Atlanta is the perfect place to get outside and explore. The mild climate makes it a perfect place to get out and exercise, and there are plenty of places to walk, bike, hike, and swim. If indoor sports and exercise are your preference, Atlanta is home to a multitude of gyms and fitness centers that offer private training, classes, and more. In 2019, Atlanta placed 22nd in a new fitness ranking in the largest of 100 U.S. cities in an analysis conducted and released by the American College of Sports Medicine and the Anthem Foundation.
Culture
Atlanta is a creative, soulful city rooted in rich cultural history. Atlanta natives can surround themselves with the arts and culture of the city full of delicious food, museums, music, theater, and more. In the heart of the city, must-see attractions include Centennial Olympic Park, which is surrounded by Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, CNN’s global headquarters, Children’s Museum of Atlanta, Center for Civil and Human Rights, and the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame, which are all within walking distance of each other. Other top attractions include the High Museum of Art, Zoo Atlanta, and Atlanta Botanical Garden.
Weather
Atlanta’s warm weather is another reason people are opting to select this city to retire. For northerners looking for milder winters, Atlanta is a great location. With high temperatures in the 50’s and 60’s on typical winter days, it beats salting your sidewalks all winter long. That said, Atlanta does get two snow days a year on average, but the accumulation averages 1.9 inches. Summers are full of sunshine and are perfect for a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking and walking trails, boating on Lake Lanier, or strolling through the Atlanta Botanical Garden.
How to Pick the Best State to Retire
Unsure about choosing a place to retire? One of the most desirable things about retirement is getting to choose where you live. Retirees aren’t necessarily tied to a specific city because of work, family, or other commitments. Before settling in a new city, state, or even country, it’s important to determine how this newest life transition will impact your lifestyle, family commitments, and overall well-being.
At Path and Post, we understand that choosing to retire is one of the bigger life moments our clients experience that cause them to buy or sell a home. Since our inception in 2013, our team of real estate specialists have received hundreds of 5-Star Reviews from satisfied clients, sold thousands of North Atlanta homes, and earned the trust to grow a private database with tens of thousands of local buyers and sellers. Contact us to be your post to lean on as we guide you along the path to a new beginning.
