For the beauty, tax benefits, and history Georgia has to offer retirees, there are some drawbacks to consider as well. While there are mild winters, the summers can be hot and humid. Georgia also sees severe weather, such as hurricanes and tornadoes.
There are many active retirement communities, mostly in more rural areas of the state. There are also crime rates to consider, as many of the retirement communities are in cities with higher crimes rates. These are just some of the things that make retirement in Georgia problematic.
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- Abundant Heat and Humidity - The summers in Georgia are known to be hot and humid. Temperatures in May average the low 80s, in June the temperature averages 88 degrees Fahrenheit, and as the summer continues July, August, and September all average in the mid-to-upper 90s, according to U.S. Climate Data. The humidity during these months can range from 70 to 100 percent humidity, according to WeatherSpark.
- Remote Retirement Spots
- There are numerous retirement communities throughout the Peach State, but many of the ones that are considered active are in rural areas of the state. Gainesville is a good example of this. It is near Lake Lanier, but is 55 miles from Atlanta. According to MarketWatch, there are 15 golf courses in the area, with a bustling downtown, and 13 miles of nature trails, but the closest airport is the international airport in Atlanta. Savannah has a similar problem. While full of activity, the town of 130,000 sees almost 12 million tourists a year, and has a wonderful downtown district that is historic and close to the beach. However, the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport has limited departures, which means most trips require a connection at another major airport like Atlanta or Chicago, MarketWatch explains.
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- Safety Issues
- Crime can be another big deterrent to moving to Georgia. Some of the cities, like Atlanta, which has a number of retirement communities, have high crime rates. On Home Security Shield's "Top 20 Most Dangerous Cities" list, Atlanta is number five. According to the website, Atlanta has a crime rate of about 79 per 1,000 residents, putting the chances of being a victim of crime at one in 12. Other cities on the list include College Park, Griffin, Macon, and Dublin.
- Dangerous Storms -
Outside of the Georgia summers, there are other severe weather events that need to be considered. In the summer, the Peach State sees thunderstorms that can bring rain, hail, wind, and tornadoes. Georgia also sees hurricanes, which can be a big deterrent for those looking to retire to someplace nice and affordable, where there isn't the possibility of having to rebuild after a catastrophic weather event. The National Weather Service lists many of the weather events in a pamphlet on their website.
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