Heart of the South

A recent Kiplinger report put Georgia at third in its rankings of "Best States to Retire," noting its low taxes and overall costs of living (7% below national average), including health care costs for retired couples (6th lowest in the country).

5.75% Top individual income tax rate (Social Security benefits are exempt)

About 100,000 new residents move to Georgia every year. Many are full-time retirees, but even more are skilled workers and professional-service providers of all ages who find new employment opportunities in the state, plus entrepreneurs who can qualify for tax credits of up to $4,000 per job created and other business incentives.

Effective state property tax rate

Generous homestead exemptions available

0.91% No estate or inheritance taxes

Prescription drugs and most grocery items are exempt from 4% state sales tax

“My favorite thing about living in Savannah Quarters is the active lifestyle. We hope to stay active for many years. We love golf. We just love being out in the nature with different views from every hole. My favorite thing outside of golf is hanging out at the clubhouse. Our award-winning chef provides wonderful meals. We have never experienced anything like this, and we’ve been members of lots of clubs before.”

Larry and Patty Kelly Savannah Quarters

Resources and Recreation Climate

Endless Education Fresh from the Farm

The University of Georgia has its main campus in Athens and 26 satellite campuses throughout the state. Georgia Tech in Atlanta features worldclass science and engineering schools, while the state's expanding technical college system has more than 20 locations. At these and all other public institutions in the state, Georgia resident seniors can take classes for free, earn credits toward an undergraduate degree, and even enroll in a master's program. Many private colleges also offer reduced-fee courses, no-cost class auditing, and educational seminars that welcome local residents of all ages.

Georgia is the largest state by size east of the Mississippi River and has nearly 10 million acres of farmland. The leading national producer of pecans, peanuts, and Vidalia onions, the state is also a significant grower of fruits like peaches, blueberries, cantaloupes, and watermelons, as well as vegetables like cabbages, cucumbers, snap beans, and squash. All are available in season at fresh-picked farmers markets throughout the state and on creative menus at award-winning restaurants from Savannah to Atlanta.

Year-round Celebrations

Every month in Georgia, there are fairs, festivals, and community celebrations somewhere in the state's 159 counties. Among the most popular in the spring are the International Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon and the 100-year-old Thomasville Rose Show and Festival. Late summer events include the Georgia Mountain Fair in Hiawassee, the Hot Air Balloon Glow Festival at Callaway Resort & Gardens, and Midtown Music Festival in Atlanta's Piedmont Park. In addition to Georgia fall celebrations like Oktoberfest in the Bavarian-themed town of Helen and the Jekyll Island Shrimp & Grits Festival, Savannah alone hosts major annual events dedicated to films, books, music, food, and wine, plus the South's biggest St. Patrick's Day Festival.

Most of Georgia is considered to be a subtropical region, especially along the Atlantic coast from Savannah to St. Marys. The summer months there can be warm and humid, although often cooled a bit by the offshore ocean breezes. The rest of the year, throughout most of the state, is perfect for outdoor recreational activities, generally sunny and dry in the fall with spring showers that farmers and gardeners welcome. With the exception of the mostly cooler highland counties in the northern part of the state, Georgia receives very little snowfall in winter.