A Refreshing State of Mind

From mountain foothills in the North to destination islands along the coast, Georgia is a state of stunning variety where new residents every year are coming home to a better life.

Georgia is a study in happy contrasts, with a choice of lifestyle options to suit every taste. If a relaxing coastal lifestyle is your preference, it’s hard to beat the historic city of Savannah with its riverside location, cultural attractions, and recreational amenities. From there, you can take an Intracoastal Waterway tour of the Georgia sea islands, from the beach town of Tybee Island and the unspoiled nature preserves on Ossabaw and Sapelo to vacation resorts on St. Simons and Jekyll Island.

State of Health

North Georgia is where you’ll find the state capital and dynamic city of Atlanta, home to international corporate headquarters, renowned venues for music and the arts, major sports teams, and unrivaled medical centers. And in the highlands above the city and in the rural countryside throughout the state, small towns with low property taxes and farmers markets feature an abundance of Georgia-produced fruits, vegetables, nuts, seafood, and poultry.

St. Marys

Zero estate or inheritance taxes. Social Security benefits are exempt from the state’s modest income taxes, as is the first $35,000 of income for residents ages 62-64 and the first $65,000 for Georgians 65 and over.

Generous homestead exemptions from local property taxes are available for residents starting at age 62.

4% state sales tax; prescription drugs and most grocery items are exempt.

7% Editor's Choice

Georgia is home to major biotech companies, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and Emory University Hospital, the hub of a statewide healthcare network that includes 250+ provider locations with nearly 3,000 physicians. For retired couples, Georgia has the sixth-lowest medical services costs in the nation.

USA TODAY readers in 2020 chose St. Marys as one of America’s Top 10 “Best Coastal Small Towns.” The launching point for day trips to the Cumberland Island National Seashore, the historic port town features fresh-caught seafood restaurants, brewpubs, cool museums, exciting kayak adventures on the river, and relaxing sunset strolls on the waterfront promenade.

VisitStMarys.com

The cost of living is about below the national average.