The idea of moving there has come up and I need to do some research. I am sure it is cheaper than Frederick, MD to live, but at age 75 I like the convenience of living here. Healthcare would also be a top priority.
Moving there would include a niece and her middle school age son so schools also have to be considered.
I grew up near there, nothing special about it. I can really not think of a reason to move there other than work or family. All you major healthcare facilities are in downtown Atlanta and the traffic there is a bitch. If i could live there for free I would not. Good luck.
Why Covington specifically? There are nicer and more convenient metro Atlanta suburbs.
No.
I used to live there before moving to be closer to work. It's kind of one of those small Georgia towns that has sort of turned into a suburb of Atlanta as other suburbs became too expensive. There is a fairly large hospital in the downtown area.
Reasons to live there besides work or family? Well, are you a diehard Dukes of Hazard or Vampire Diaries fan? Not much local car stuff going on other than a monthly cruise in on the square, which is mostly a nostalgia sort of car show but does attract some surprisingly high caliber restorations if that's your thing. No rules for what is and isn't eligible there, so you occasionally get a few real surprises. But actual racing is going to require a bit of a drive.
I live in Stone Mountain and worked in Covington Georgia for 14 years recently (SKC). Commuting was great as when everyone was heading west toward Atlanta in the morning I was heading east. It was 33 miles and I could make the trip in 40 minutes generally.
Covington is small and I could never see moving there, but Atlanta in encroaching every day. I20 gets you into east Atlanta in 30+ minutes. Emory healthcare facilities are generally in the east Atlanta side which would be good for you.
Cost of living would certainly be less that Md, but others have the idea of buying in a small town outside of Atlanta (Covington) and commuting to Atlanta work.
I would not live in Conyers or Lithonia (crime). Social Circle and Oxford are kinda cool, but you would have to go to Covington for groceries/Walmart. Sherman did not burn Madison which would be a choice I would consider as it is has a Walmart, but you are now getting really east of Atlanta and the easy healthcare commute you may be looking for.
Schools: We are in the Parkview School District here and why we like this area (St. Mtn/Lilburn).
http://www.collegesimply.com/k12/lists/public-high-schools/top-rated/state/georgia/
I live 20 minutes away from covington. I don't have a reason why you shouldn't.
houses are cheap, schools are decent, crime is low, traffic is low. I have zero interest in moving to an Atlanta suburb. You're going to pay more, and you're going to sit in traffic.
I live 15 mins from Covington, near Walnut Grove. Not a bad area, plenty of places to live around Covington, and while not everything is in Covington, they are close enough for easy access (Walmart and such). I would stay away from Conyers as well, traffic sucks there, mainly due to a lot of cars passing through the area. More to the east or south or north of Covington.
Any reason you’re looking at Covington, specifically?
In reply to poopshovel again :
Recently divorced niece is currently living in the area and evidently having a rough go of it. She is trying to convince the wife that as retirees we could live much better there because of the lower cost of living. I like where we are for many reasons. Moved here in 1966 and never saw any reason to move (wife was born here). Cheaper cost of living just means cheap to me.
What about Athens? Only 45 minutes from covington and an awesome town to live in. (I admit I grew up there, so I am somewhat biased). It is a university town (Go Dawgs), so there is a lot going on, good food, etc.
Madison is a nice quiet town too.
Meh. Stay in Fredneck you're 75 and top quality abundant choice in healthcare is important and this area will have that for some time to come. Tell the niece to move north - lots of career opportunities up here and it might help with her life change. You've earned your retirement and having been in Md since '66 stay. 
Plus if your wifes family's up here - no brainer stay.
If you've been where you are for 52 years and like it there, why move? I live in the Atlanta suburbs too, moved here 4 years ago after 42 years in and around Philly. It's OK here, nothing special. I definitely like winter much better and for that reason alone wouldn't go back north. But if you're OK with winter and happy there, stay. As for me...once we're empty nesters I want to go even further south. I'll be happy to be that stereotypical Florida retiree...except I still hope to be racing and have cool cars.
In reply to BFH_Garage :
getting invaded by inebriated rednecks 6 times a year doesn't sound like my ideal neighborhood.
I don't always agree with the "cheaper cost of living" discussions.
Sure, taxes are less, large houses are cheaper, heating costs are lower.
BUT....
Do you need or want a large house?
What is the actual cost of the move in cash dollars and how long will that take to amortize back with cheaper taxes?
Cheap taxes just mean less social services.
How much will your A/C bill be?
Assuming your current place is paid for and you would pay cash for your new place, but there are still closing costs and inspections that have to be figured into your move, and at 75 it is unlikely to amortize that cost out over 30 years. Payback needs to be pronto.
How much further will you travel for decent groceries, a Target or a Walmart, etc? Sure small towns have cheap houses but they also only have a Family Dollar and a Kwik-E-Mart if you are lucky.
Gas costs the same anywhere you go, roughly.
Price of groceries/toiletries/etc seems to be directly related to how close you are to a decent town. Decent towns have higher property values.
Drive time sucks. Can't buy more time.
Long story short, no such thing as a free lunch or low cost of living.
Rent a home for your niece to help her out with enough room for you to "Visit" and check it out ,
Visit every few months so you get the feel of the place and then decide if you like it ,
Moving someplace unknown at your age and not liking it is too stressful,
Good luck ,. just don't rush it....
In reply to Klayfish :
You’ll be back. They all come back. 
Hal said:In reply to poopshovel again :
Recently divorced niece is currently living in the area and evidently having a rough go of it. She is trying to convince the wife that as retirees we could live much better there because of the lower cost of living. I like where we are for many reasons. Moved here in 1966 and never saw any reason to move (wife was born here). Cheaper cost of living just means cheap to me.
Wow, you're a super nice uncle to even consider that. Hopefully she's not trying to take advantage of that. She's having a rough go and is trying to convince her 75 year old uncle uproot from his town of 52 years to move to Covington.....why exactly? To pay for stuff for her?
My $0.02 is to stay put and send her a Walmart gift card every once in a while.
In reply to crankwalk :
I think you got the idea of what is going on and I like your solution. She is my wife's sister's kid and I think that the only reason she contacted the wife is that we are the only ones in the family who could do this financially. The wife has read most of the posts here and reached the same conclusions as you and I.
Hal said:In reply to crankwalk :
I think you got the idea of what is going on and I like your solution. She is my wife's sister's kid and I think that the only reason she contacted the wife is that we are the only ones in the family who could do this financially. The wife has read most of the posts here and reached the same conclusions as you and I.
Good luck with it. Family drama is never fun but folks have to deal with their own stuff and not complicate other people's lives. I would have been mortified to ask for $20 to cover a water bill at 21 years old much less try to disrupt a helpful retired family member's life as a grown adult for any reason.
Also if she was to move up here these guys can be a help with transportation.
poopshovel again said:In reply to Klayfish :
You’ll be back. They all come back.
Trust me, I can't tell you how many times my "heart" misses home. So many things about the Philly area I miss. But our LeMons team runs a race at New Hampshire Motorspeedway every October. When I fly up there and freeze my balls off because it's only 55 degrees, it's a very clear "Hell no" I will not move back north again. After 4 years here, I have become a total cold weather wimp.
In reply to Klayfish :
Oh, I meant back to GA from FL, so you can receive your official “half-back” stamp.
Western NC is full of half-backs.
Hal, can you get a better definition of "having a rough go of it"? She needs a job, help her and polish up the resume'. Housing? See above. Her kid is a PITA, it's not your kid. Help your niece for sure but don't enable.
Good luck.
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