11 Best Places to Retire For People Who Hate Cold Winters!

4) Athens, Georgia

Athens is home to the University of Georgia. It’s a charming college town which has also been ranked by Forbes magazine as a top retirement spot. The population is about 120,000, but the city of Atlanta is just a little over an hour away. The downtown area is very walkable and filled with restaurants and boutiques. Local businesses also dominate other parts of town, alongside popular chains. The average high in January is 54 degrees and the average low is 33. Snow and ice do happen, but are infrequent occurrences. Taxes are good for retirees and the cost of living is 8 percent below the national average. Thanks to the university, which has more than 30,000 students, there are ample cultural opportunities, including museums, concerts, and major events, like the Twilight Criterium bike race and Athfest.