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Dahlonega, Georgia

What It Is Like to Retire in Dahlonega

This town in northern Georgia is old gold mining center; in fact it had a mint that produced U.S. coins. It has the Dosta Playhouse and the largest cultural arts center in the region.. Valdosta State University is also a center of local culture. See our article: Road Trip: The Mountain Towns of North Georgia, for more ideas.

Where to Retire in Dahlonega and Home Prices

Residential Dahlonega ranges from nice country/rural areas to vacation rental areas, although there are some less desirable areas that one commenter compared to Deliverance. There are some large active communities in the area.
According to Zillow, the median home value was $371,740 in mid-2024, a bit less than the national figure. It has a small town feel and the housing stock has some amazingly beautiful restored homes (see photos above).

What Is Special about Dahlonega

Interesting history as the original U.S. gold rush area. The Dahlonega Mint produced gold coins until the Civil War - today those coins are highly sought after by numismatists. One of its best features is the central square - shops all around and the Court House and Gold Museum in the center of the square. Nice tourist area with interesting downtown and festivals. Recent honors include being named to Preserve America program, National Main Street program, and Tree City USA. Proximity to giant Lake Lanier is a plus.

What Is Not Special about Dahlonega

It is rural and far from any major city. Outside of town it is not unusual to see young men in camo clothing driving big pickup trucks, which could be unsettling to folks from outside the region.

Who Will Like Retirement in Dahlonega

The likely retiree for the Dahlonega area would enjoy the outdoors, want to live in a bustling small town, and want to be near a large lake. We were told at the Visitors Center that people retire here from all over. Many of the retirees are former military who became familiar with the area after going to the nearby (US Army) Ranger School or the University of North Georgia, which has a huge campus right in town. Politically speaking, the area is very conservative; 75% voted Republican in 2016.

Local Economy Is Driven by

Tourism is the major driver of the Dahlonega economy.

Climate and Physical Environment

Dahlonega is 60 or so miles from Atlanta in north central Georgia. Gainesville and Lake Lanier are immediately to the south. Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville, Chattanooga are all within a few hours. The average July high temperature is 86 and the average January low is 26. January is the wettest month.

Restaurants & Cultural Scene

In addition to the Gold Museum other cultural events include the "Bear on the Square", an annual three-day festival with an art show. There is a regular series of festivals, some of them featuring bluegrass music. The Lumpkin County Library is open every day but Sunday and offers classes, interlibrary loan, and public computers.