The college town home to the University of Georgia is becoming a retirement destination, according to state and local officials.

The growth is spurred in part by recent articles like one in Fortune magazine that called Athens the ``best place to recapture your youth'' and placed it on the magazine's list of best U.S. places to retire.

Hundreds of people called the Athens Convention and Visitors Bureau last year to ask about retiring in the area, said Meredith McLucas, the bureau's tour and travel manager.

The number of people age 65 and older living in Athens and the surrounding counties is expected to jump 25 percent in the next five years, according to the state Office of Planning and Budget.

Most of the settlement is expected in Barrow, Jackson and Oconee counties, which are considered Athens suburbs. The 65-and-older population is expected to rise by more than 30 percent in those areas. The overall state increase is expected to be 20 percent, and in Athens itself, only 11 percent.

Aging baby boomers who already are in Athens and its environs will also contributing to the graying population, said Doug Bachtel, a demographer in the University of Georgia's department of housing and consumer economics.

The changing demographic will place additional demands on the area's medical and recreational facilities, but it will be a boon in other ways.

``This is really a wealthy cohort,'' said Leonard Poon, a UGA gerontologist. ``They're going to be very active in giving to various charities, and in participating and volunteering.''

The appeals of Athens, as cited by Fortune magazine, include exposure to a young and lively college population and the offer of free classes at UGA for people 62 and older.

Another perk: Georgia law gives older people a tax break, no matter their income and asset levels.

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)