New Jersey Description/Overview
New Jersey is home to hundreds of 55+ active adult and retirement communities. While that may have been surprising back in the early days of resort-style active adult communities, developers now know that many empty nesters and retirees prefer to stay close to their hometowns. Choosing an active adult community close to home allows them to live within easy distance of family and friends, while still enjoying the benefits of an age-restricted, resort-style community.
Active adult communities in New Jersey have been designed by many of the country’s leading 55+ community developers, such as Del Webb, Lennar and K. Hovnanian. There are also communities built by developers that are popular within the region, including Toll Brothers and Mignatti Companies. Though the area does experience all four seasons, that doesn’t prevent the communities from offering a wide array of amenities including spacious clubhouses, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, hobby and game rooms, and plenty of recreational activities.
New Jersey’s climate includes both humid subtropical, and humid continental areas. Summers are hot and humid with daytime temperatures in the high 80s to low 90s, especially in the southern half of the state. The more northern regions sit at a higher elevation and tend to be a bit cooler year-round. The winters are cold with daytime temperatures that usually stay below 45 degrees. Snow is common in the winter, though the amount varies from one year to the next.
New Jersey is set on the east coast, just south of New York and north of Delaware. The state is bordered on the west by Pennsylvania. The New Jersey Tourism Commission has divided the state into six different regions: Gateway, Skylands, Shore, Delaware River, Atlantic City, and South Shore. Each region has its own distinct geography, lifestyle and general atmosphere.
Gateway is the northeastern portion of the state and the closest to New York City. This region includes such popular cities as Newark, Jersey City, Elizabeth, Edison and Hoboken. Is is also home to Ellis Island, which was once considered the gateway to America. The Gateway region falls within the New York City metropolitan area, and many residents commute into the city for work. Gateway extends south to encompass the eastern area of central New Jersey. Active adult communities in the Gateway region include Wanaque Reserve by Del Webb at its northwestern edge, and Princeton Manor by Toll Brothers further to the south.
The northwestern portion of New Jersey, extending through the west-central area, is known as the Skylands. This mountainous region is more rural than Gateway to its east. It contains wooded areas, rolling hills, scenic lakes and two national parks. Skylands also includes High Point, which, at an elevation of 1,803 feet, is the highest peak of the Kittatinny Mountains and the highest point in the state. Those who wish to live near Skylands can look toward communities in Monroe, such as Regency at Monroe by Toll Brothers, or Greenbriar Stonebridge by Lennar.
New Jersey’s famed Shore region stretches along the Atlantic coast, just south of the Gateway region, and contains the popular Monmouth and Ocean counties. With its miles of beautiful beaches, the Shore has developed its own distinct lifestyle and culture. It is also a popular tourist destination, with a season that peeks during the summer months. Active adult communities near the Shore include the impressive golf community, Greenbriar Oceanaire; resort-style living at Heritage Point; and the beautiful Four Seasons at South Knolls.
The Delaware River region spans the south-central portion of western New Jersey, and contains Mercer, Gloucester, Camden, Burlingham, and Salem counties. This region lies along the Pennsylvania border and is partly included in the Philadelphia metropolitan area and in the Delaware Valley. With its central location and close proximity to Philadelphia, this is a popular region for active adults. Several impressive age-restricted communities are located within the Delaware River region, including: Four Seasons at Weatherby, in Woolwich; The Village Grande at Camelot, in Glassboro; and Montebello, in Berlin.
Further south, the Atlantic City region is located along the eastern coast. As the name implies, this region contains the world-class casinos and hotels found along the boardwalk in Atlantic City. This popular tourist attraction offers plenty of exciting activities as well as lovely stretches of sandy oceanfront. Active adults who want to live near this bustling hot spot, may want to consider a community in Egg Harbor, such as The Village Grande at English Mill, and Four Seasons at Harbor Bay.
New Jersey’s South Shore region lies at the state’s southernmost edge along the Atlantic coast, and reaches westward across more than half the state. The region includes Cumberland and Cape May counties, and borders Delaware to the south. Cape May, the peninsula at the state’s southern tip, is a popular tourist area, which includes the oldest seaside resort in America. In 1976, the entire city was designated as a National Historic Landmark and much of the town includes impeccably maintained original Victorian structures.
Those who travel frequently may choose to live near one of New Jersey’s commercial airports. Newark Liberty International Airport is located in the northeastern portion of the state, just outside of New York City. This airport handles much of the volume traveling in and out of New York City and is one of the busiest airports in the country. New Jersey has smaller commercial airports as well, and residents living in other parts of the state may choose to travel through Atlantic City International Airport or Trenton-Mercer Airport.
Excellent healthcare centers are available throughout the state, as well as across the borders in the metropolitan areas of New York City and Philadelphia. New Jersey is home to teams from several major professional sports leagues, and has many historic and cultural regions. Shopping centers are also plentiful and New Jersey offers sales tax exemptions for a variety of items including clothing and groceries.
New Jersey residents can enjoy close proximity to major urban centers like New York City and Philadelphia; popular tourist attractions like Atlantic City, the Jersey Shore, and Cape May; and the state’s diverse geographical regions, which include mountains, beaches, and wooded areas. With the abundance of active adult communities found throughout the state, its no wonder that many empty nesters and retirees are choosing to make New Jersey their retirement home.
