Whether you’re a lifelong
Atlanta resident looking for a break from the big city lifestyle or a newcomer drawn to the numerous amenities and culture in The City in a Forest, these suburbs are the perfect spots to retire.
We looked at a whole bunch of data to figure out the best Atlanta suburbs to spend your golden years. If you’re looking for close-knit communities, plenty of amenities, and affordable homes near the action in downtown Atlanta, you’ll definitely want to check out our 10 winners.
Let’s take a look at the suburbs that made the cut.
1. Lithonia
Key Stats:
- Cost of living: 89, compared to the Atlanta average of 104
- Median home price: $100,500
The small town of Lithonia kicks off our list of the best Atlanta suburbs to retire with plenty of affordable ranch style homes and modern townhouses that are perfect for retirees.
The large Lithonia Community Park is the perfect spot for an evening stroll or a lunchtime picnic on a sunny day. Numerous local shops and restaurants in the center of Lithonia give residents convenient access to services, shopping, and dining.
2. Lake City
Key Stats:
- Cost of living: 89, compared to the Atlanta average of 104
- Residents 65 and up: 20.3 percent
Retirees in the small town of Lake City will have plenty of peers, with 20.3 percent of the population age 65 and up. Home buyers will find ranch style homes on large, private lots.
With a population of just over 2,600, it’s easy to get to know your neighbors in this close-knit community. Stroll through gorgeous walking trails and watch wildlife at the scenic Willie Oswalt Nature Park or have a picnic at the Lake City Community Park.
3. Stone Mountain
Key Stats:
- Number of doctors: 75
- Total senior amenities: 228
The small scenic city of Stone Mountain earns the third place spot on our list with plenty of senior amenities for retirees to enjoy. Home buyers will find ranch, cottage, and farmhouse style homes, as well as low maintenance townhomes.
Stone Mountain Park is the perfect spot for outdoor recreation enthusiasts to enjoy their golden years, and offers walking trails, golf, and a cable car ride to the historic, carved peak. Residents can also enjoy community events, like the Friday night concert series on Main Street, grab fresh local produce at the farmers market or check out a new book at the Sue Kellogg Library.
4. Jonesboro
Key Stats:
- Cost of living: 87, compared to the Atlanta average of 104
- Median home price: $82,200
The small city of Jonesboro earns the fourth place spot on our list with a low cost of living and plenty of affordable homes. Townhouses, ranch, and farmhouse style homes on large lots are common in this Atlanta suburb.
Enjoy jazz, Motown, rock, and gospel music at the Summer Concert Series, or enjoy a picnic on a sunny day at Rum Creek Park. Residents can also check out a new book or movie at the Clayton County Library System Jonesboro Branch.
5. Monroe
Key Stats:
- Cost of living: 89, compared to the Atlanta average of 104
- Residents 65 and up: 15 percent
The lively suburb of Monroe earns the fifth place spot on our list of the best Atlanta suburbs for retirees with affordable farmhouse, craftsman, and ranch style homes.
The thriving, pedestrian-friendly Downtown Monroe has plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment for residents to enjoy. Grab a bite to eat at Food Truck Friday, watch a movie at the library, or pick up fresh local produce at the Monroe Farmers Market. Golf enthusiasts can hit the links at the Monroe Golf and Country Club.
6. Palmetto
Key Stats:
- Cost of living: 92, compared to the Atlanta average of 104
- Residents 65 and up: 12.2 percent
The close-knit community of Palmetto earns the sixth place spot on our list. Home buyers will find charming craftsman, farmhouse, and ranch style homes with plenty of room to spread out on large lots.
Enjoy a picnic in the well landscaped Wayside Park or enjoy numerous local dining options, from casual brunch spots to upscale restaurants. Residents also have access to antique shops, boutiques, and specialty stores.
7. Morrow
Key Stats:
- Median home price: $109,600
- Total senior amenities: 99
Morrow may be a small city, but there is no shortage of senior amenities in this lively Atlanta suburb. Home buyers will find modern townhouses, farmhouses, and ranch style homes.
Enjoy convenient shopping and casual dining at Southlake Mall or get back to nature by strolling through trails and viewing historic farm equipment and buildings at the Reynolds Nature Preserve. Arts and culture enthusiasts can watch live music performances at Spivey Hall.
8. Fayetteville
Key Stats:
- Number of doctors: 175
- Residents 65 and up: 14.9 percent
Retirees looking for a larger suburb with plenty of amenities will love Fayetteville. Home buyers have their pick of a variety of architectural styles, including charming ranch, farmhouse, and craftsman style homes.
Enjoy convenient shopping from brand name retailers at the Fayette Pavilion, see a movie at one of Fayetteville’s Cinemark theaters, or check out a new book from the Fayetteville County Library.
9. Riverdale
Key Stats:
- Number of doctors: 137
- Cost of living: 89, compared to the Atlanta average of 104
The large suburb of Riverdale has plenty of affordable housing options for retirees, including low maintenance townhomes, ranch style homes, and farmhouses on spacious lots.
Residents enjoy convenient shopping from numerous brand name retailers, specialty stores, boutiques, and thrift shops. Community events like Friday Night Flicks are a great way to get to know your neighbors.
10. Austell
Key Stats:
- Number of doctors: 258
- Cost of living: 94, compared to the Atlanta average of 104
The small town of Austell rounds out our list of the best Atlanta suburbs to retire with a range of options for home buyers. Townhouses, cozy cottage style homes, bungalows, and ranch style houses are all common.
Enjoy a picnic at Louise Suggs Memorial Park, stroll along Sweetwater Creek at Legion Park, or get back to nature for a long weekend at the Atlanta West Campgrounds. Residents can also check out a new book at the Sweetwater Valley Library.
Our Methodology
To create this list of the best Atlanta Suburbs to retire, we took a look at the following retiree-friendly criteria:
- Doctors per capita
- Senior amenities per capita (volunteer opportunities, recreation centers, golf courses, restaurants, libraries, arts and entertainment, and retirement homes)
- Cost of living (the lower the better)
- Median home price (the lower the better)
- Percent of residents 65 and up
- Total Crimes per 100k
From there, we ranked each suburb in the above categories. Then, because some things are a little more important to retirees than others, we weighed the percent of residents 65 and up and total crimes per 100,000 people so they made up 20 percent of our total score, while the rest of the categories made up 15 percent.
We averaged these weighted scores into one overall score, with the lowest 10 scores going toward our top 10 suburbs for retirement.
To see how other Atlanta suburbs ranked, check out the table below:
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