Best Places to Retire in New Jersey
When people think of retirement, most people think of Florida, but there are plenty of reasons not to move there including the threat of hurricanes, humid weather, and more. While New Jersey might not be the most popular for retirees due to its relatively high cost of living. However, if you have a nice nest egg, retiring in New Jersey might be the perfect idea as the state provides a wide variety of amenities that you can really take advantage of once you don’t have to work anymore! Of course, some locations are better than others so below is a list of some great places to retire to in NJ.
Pompton Lakes
Located in Passaic County, Pompton Lakes offers a scenic respite from city living. As you might expect, the borough is named after an actual lake, which means you get to have a beautiful 175-acre man-made lake in your backyard. If you prefer something a bit more strenuous than strolling by a lake, you can access the southern portion of Ramapo Mountains via the Cannonball Trail in the northernmost area of the borough.
When it comes to community, Pompton Lakes provides plenty of activities that you can enjoy including a weekly flea market, dance classes, and more. There’s also a quaint downtown area that runs along Wanaqua Avenue where you can check out various restaurants Las Jocoteñas for some delicious Mexican or Mack’s American Bar & Grill for some great burgers. If you have a sweet tooth, make sure to head over to Randy’s for some homemade ice cream!
Vineland
Named Vineland after Charles K. Landis, a property developer, discovered the area had soil appropriate for growing grapes, Vineland is the most populous municipality in Cumberland County due to its proximity to Philadelphia as well as its charming atmosphere. While most people probably haven’t heard of Vineland, NJ before, it is actually a historic place as Welch’s Grape Juice was founded here, it was home to the Progresso soup company, it was the site of Vineland Poultry Labs that developed the fowl pox chicken vaccine, and it was also home to the first school for the intellectually disabled.
With a population of over 60,000, there’s a lot to do and see in and around Vineland. For nature lovers, you can head over to South Vineland Park for a stroll and fishing. If you want a proper hike, head outside the city borders and you’ll have the options of Wharton State Forest, Belleplain State Forest, and more! If nature isn’t your thing, head over to Downtown Vineland to enjoy the many shops and restaurants as well as some community events like the annual Christmas parade and the dandelion festival where you can try all sorts of dandelion food and drinks.
There’s also a large 65+ community in Vineland, so you can definitely find some friends who share common interests.
Millville
If you still want to be close to a major city like Philadelphia, but want to live somewhere quiet, then Millville is a great option! Located in Cumberland County, you have easy access to Philadelphia if you need it via NJ Transit buses, but you can pretty much get everything you need in town. Simply walk down N High street and you’ll be able to choose from a wide variety of restaurants, boutique shops, and more! The downtown area is very walkable and there are plenty of stores to check out in a two block radius.
What attracts people to Millville is its access to nature. Millville is home to Union Lake, a 5,000 acre man-made lake built from the Maurice River. Start at the Millville waterfalls and work your way around the eastern side of the lake to get to Union Lake Beach for some swimming and tanning. If you go a bit further north, there’s a boat launch where you can bring a canoe or kayak.. Not much of a swimmer? Then grab a fishing pole and some buddies and enjoy catching some fish. If you prefer something more natural, head south to Natural Lands’ Peek Preserve to enjoy stunning trails along the Maurice River, migratory birds, and more.
When it comes to indoor activities, there’s still plenty of things to do. Head over to the Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center and explore the Museum of American Glass, which includes the world’s largest hand-blown glass bottle. Every day you can watch demonstrations in glass, pottery, and more and even take some classes and workshops on glassblowing, pottery, weaving, and more!
Highland Park, NJ
A small borough located in Middlesex County, its views of the Raritan River and close proximity to NYC make it a great place for those who want a slightly quieter neighborhood without giving up big city living. There’s plenty to do here as well as a bustling downtown due thanks to being next door to the Rutgers Livingston Campus. While that might mean dealing with a lot of college-aged kids, it also means more restaurants, stores, and activities.
Getting around Highland Park is easy as NJ transit provides two local buses and you can hop on a train to get to NYC in about 45 minutes. Want to try your luck? Then hop on the Suburban Transit bus on the weekends to head to Atlantic City. Otherwise, hang around the neighborhood and enjoy the many historic buildings, including those located in Livingston Manor, which was listed in the National Register of Historic Places back in 2004.
You don’t need to leave Highland Park at all if you don’t want to. Enjoy a beautiful walk along the Raritan at Donaldson Park, a 90-acre park that offers amenities like sports fields & courts, picnic areas, and more. Or check out the Meadows across the street for a more ‘untamed’ nature walk. If you’re looking for places to eat, walk along Raritan Avenue for a wide variety of eating and shopping options.
Haddonfield
Named after Elizabeth Haddon, an early settler of the area, Haddonfield is a borough located within driving distance of Philadelphia and Atlantic City. However, it’s not just a bedroom community of these major cities, there are plenty of reasons to move to Haddonfield, especially if you’re a history buff. Haddonfield is home to the Indian King Tavern, a colonial tavern where, in 1777, New Jersey was officially declared an independent state. While it’s no longer a tavern, you can still walk through the building as it was renovated into a museum. It is also home to the second oldest volunteer fire company in the contiguous United States!
If you’re an outdoors person, there are plenty of places to enjoy. There’s Pennypacker park, which includes Evans Pod and Wallworth Pond, both dammed sections of the Cooper River. The park is also the historic site of the first near-complete dinosaur skeleton discovery, Hadrosaurus Foulii Leidy. If you walk down Kings Highway, the main street of Haddonfield, you’ll see a statue of a Hadrosaurus! The site of discovery itself is marked by a commemorative stone in the park itself.
Haddonfield prides itself on being walkable and most streets do have sidewalks so you can easily walk to any part of the community. If you want to travel outside the area, you can hop onto the PATCO speedline to get to Philadelphia or take it to Linwood where you can hop on a NJ transit bus or train to get to NYC.
Retiring to NJ
There are plenty of other amazing locations in New Jersey to retire to, but these places have some of the best amenities and are very senior citizen friendly. If you find your dream house or condo, call NJ Great Movers and we can help you with every part of your move including packing, unpacking, and storage. Just reach out to us and we’ll create a plan that matches your needs and budget.
FAQ
Are there events centered around senior citizens?
Yes, there are many events that focus on senior citizens in these areas. You can check the event calendar on the official town site or check meetup.
What percentage of these towns are 65+?
While each town varies, at least 10 percent of the population in these towns are 65+ with Haddonfield in the lead with 15 percent of the population being 65+.
