So much more than Coca-Cola and peaches! That #1 ranking is no fluke – Kiplinger ranked Georgia the #3 best state to retire in 2018. What constitutes “best” depends on your personal preferences, of course. But these rankings are based on facts – things like affordability, senior-friendliness, wellness and health care availability, the weather, crime, and overall quality of life that matter greatly to seniors.
If you’re not from around here, you may only know about Atlanta. Or Plains, home to former president Jimmy Carter. But Georgia is a big state, with diverse geography that literally runs from the mountains to the sea. As a place to retire, Georgia offers its own unique list of advantages and its own special appeal.
The weather is great
Tired of snow and cold? It’s easy to warm up to Georgia’s temperate climate where temperatures typically run between 40 and 80 degrees. That’s not to say it never snows, and it is humid in the summer, but hey, humidity is a great moisturizer. Who doesn’t want younger looking skin?
It’s beautiful
Have you always dreamed of retiring to the beach? Do you dream of living where you could be surrounded by lush forests or rolling hills or beautiful farms or rushing rivers? Welcome to Georgia. We’ve got it all. And, by the way, those rolling hills are officially known as piedmont here. Spend some time outdoors in Georgia, and you can meet 160 different varieties of birds and more than 250 species of trees.
It’s vibrant . . . or not so much
From small towns that offer the quiet life to urban settings with all the bustle and pizzazz you could want, Georgia offers the action level that feels just right to you.

There’s no end of things to see and do
In addition to bird-watching and tree cataloguing, you can hunt, fish, hike, engage in water sports, play golf or tennis, wade in the ocean (and wiggle your toes in the warm sand). You can also visit a vast array of fascinating museums and other attractions, take in a wealth of arts, cultural and performance opportunities, dine on everything from haute cuisine to Southern specialties and foreign foods from around the world, and shop till you drop – into a comfy chair back home in your own living room. Whew!
Sports for every fan
Love to watch professional or amateur sports? Six pro teams call Atlanta home, and towns all around the state have their own local school and college teams in a wide range of sports.
Veterans fit right in
This state has strong military ties, past and present. Georgia is home to many military bases and museums, which makes it a very popular retirement location for veterans. Vets move here to mingle with other retired vets and the next thing you know, their adult children are moving here to join them. Sometimes veterans retire to Georgia because their adult children are already here -- active military, stationed at one of the state’s numerous military installations.
Iconic edibles
We mentioned Coke and peaches earlier, but retire in Georgia and you can be sitting down to chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits, pecan pie, and a tall, cold glass of sweet tea. You can taste it all right now, can’t you? Retire to Magnolia Manor, in Americus, and you can enjoy our annual tomato sandwich party, thanks to farm-ripe local produce.
Georgia is affordable for seniors
Whether you’ve amassed a comfortable retirement savings or not, money matters as we get older. It’s not unusual for seniors to outlive their savings. Choosing an affordable place to retire means you can stretch your resources farther and perhaps treat yourself to an even more exciting, carefree lifestyle. What makes Georgia so financially friendly for seniors?
- Low state and local sales taxes
- No state tax on Social Security income
- Very generous income tax deduction (per person) for other retirement income
- No estate or inheritance tax
- Low property taxes, should you wish to purchase a home

And did we mention our famous Georgia hospitality?
Anyone who lives here will be the first to tell you Georgia is big on friendly, welcoming hospitality. Still, there’s an ongoing controversy about that.
See, residents of different parts of the state think they have the warmest people. For example, Kathy Freeman, Activity Director at Magnolia Manor Americus, is from the northern part of the state. She says northerners are the friendliest. But Lydia Romero, Resident Sales Coordinator at Americus, is from the southern part of the state. Guess where she says you’ll find the most hospitable people?
Wherever you retire in Georgia, you certainly won’t have to worry about being welcomed with open arms. As one of our Magnolia Manor staff members says, “This is just a great state!”