There are plenty of reasons why so many retirees choose to live in New Jersey. Two of the biggest are location and the diversity of lifestyle options. New Jerseyans can reach the mountains, beaches, or the cities of New York, Philadelphia, and Atlantic City within an hour or two. Active adults can enjoy world-class restaurants, shopping and entertainment, and historic landmarks all within reach of their communities.
Natural beauty abounds in New Jersey, with dozens of pristine beach towns, the Pinelands, and parks just begging to be explored and enjoyed. The winters are not too cold and summers are not overly hot and humid. Living in the Garden State year-round means you won’t be stuck indoors for long periods of time when the weather does not cooperate.
Interested but not sure where to look? Why not start with the best-selling communities in the state? 55places.com compiled internal sales data from July 1, 2017 to July 1, 2018 to pin down the 10 best-selling active adult communities in New Jersey.
Holiday City at Berkeley
Homes for Sale
Holiday City at Berkeley in Toms River is practically a whole town in itself. This 55+ community of 3,236 homes is comprised of several neighborhoods: Holiday City South, Holiday City Carefree, Holiday City West, and Holiday City Heights. Each one boasts its own pool as well as a clubhouse with different clubs and activities. Residents love its small-town feel as Holiday City at Berkeley has its own shops, banks, and restaurants. Home sizes range from 750 to over 1,850 square feet.
Leisure Village West
Homes for Sale
This gated, 55+ golf-course community in Manchester covers 825 acres. It has three clubhouses and is rich in amenities, classes, clubs, and activities. The community even has its own performance theater and library. There are 2,692 homes featuring 20 floor plans ranging in size from 737 to 2,013 square feet. Located in Ocean County, Leisure Village West is close to the Jersey Shore, restaurants, and shopping.
Leisure Village East
Homes for Sale
Slightly smaller than its Western sibling, Leisure Village East is located in Lakewood and includes 1,412 attached homes sized from 630 to 1,690 square feet. Inside you’ll find a nine-hole golf course, a large clubhouse, walking and biking trails, and an outdoor pool. Community activities include book clubs, line dancing, ceramic classes, bowling, and fitness classes. New York City, Atlantic City, and Philadelphia are all within easy reach via car and public transit.
Concordia
Homes for Sale
Active adults are drawn to Concordia in Monroe because it has something for just about everyone. Its modern residences run the gamut between condos, semi-attached duplexes, townhomes, and free-standing ranch homes. These low-maintenance residences range from 950 to 1,700 square feet with attached garages or carports. This property features 1,757 residences and a stunning 18-hole golf course. Active adults here also spend time at the beautiful clubhouse, fitness center, indoor pool, and six lighted tennis courts. Residents can walk right to Concordia’s shopping center and Freehold Raceway Mall is a quick drive away. Concordia is also just two miles from the New Jersey Turnpike, making it easy to commute or travel just about anywhere in the state.
Four Seasons at Smithville
Homes for Sale
This Hovnanian-built community includes over 1,200 single family homes with lifestyle options and amenities that appeal to active adults. These homes range from 1,480 to 2,312 square feet with two or three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an attached one or two-car garage. Located in Atlantic County, Smithville is a charming town with unique shops, dining, festivals, and other events. Residents of Four Seasons at Smithville have access to all this, in addition to the community’s on-site offerings. The 23,000 square-foot clubhouse has meeting rooms and a fitness center. There are also indoor and outdoor pools, tennis and bocce ball courts, and walking and biking paths.
Fox Hills
Homes for Sale
Fox Hills is a gated condominium community located in Rockaway. This appealing village has 672 condos with over ten available floor plans ranging in size from 820 to 2,935 square feet. Fox Hills has a large clubhouse, indoor and outdoor pools, a popular fitness center, a library, tennis courts, and more. The location in Morris County is convenient to outstanding shopping, top-notch medical centers, restaurants, and Mount Tabor Country Club. The scenic natural beauty of the area is showcased at nearby White Meadow Lake, Mount Hope Country Park, and Wildcat Ridge State Wildlife Management Area.
Greenbriar I
Homes for Sale
Greenbriar I is an active adult community with 1,951 single-family and attached homes located in the highly sought-after town of Brick in Ocean County. There are five different floor plans, most with garages and screened-in porches or patios. Residents hang out at the popular clubhouse and treat themselves to wine and cheese parties, game nights, and various classes. There is also a fitness center, a fireside lounge, and an outdoor pool. There are more than 30 clubs and groups, including dancing, poker, arts and crafts, and bowling. Brick is a short drive from Atlantic City, the Grounds for Sculpture, Cattus Island Park, and many more interesting destinations.
Rossmoor Village
Homes for Sale
Middlesex County is home to charming Rossmoor Village, an active adult community of 2,303 homes in Monroe. Styled like an old New England village, Rossmoor features a wide variety of home styles, an 18-hole golf course, and its own health center and recreation department. Active adults can choose from condos and ranch-style homes from 590 to 2,259 square feet. Its clubhouse features a library, computer and billiard rooms, an art studio, woodworking shop, and a fully-equipped kitchen. Residents have plenty to keep them busy outside, including an 18-hole championship golf course and croquet, bocce, shuffleboard and tennis courts, as well as a swimming pool and hot tub. The surrounding area provides access to plenty of shopping, lovely Thompson Park, and neighboring beach towns.
Canal Walk
Homes for Sale
Somerset’s Canal Walk is a sprawling active adult community that will have 1,200 townhomes, condos and single-family homes upon completion. It has three areas: The Reserve at Canal Walk for single-family homes, The Enclave at Canal Walk houses for condos, and Canal Walk with attached townhomes. Residents enjoy two outdoor pools, tennis courts, a putting green, and various trails. Its large clubhouse comes with an indoor pool and fitness and wellness center. Everyone here keeps busy with art and fitness classes held at the clubhouse but they also use Somerset County’s Community Access Transit Service for transport to shopping and medical centers.
Renaissance at Manchester
Homes for Sale
Renaissance at Manchester is an active adult golf course community set in a peaceful, rural atmosphere. There are 1,905 single family homes, sized from 1,522 to 2,256 square feet. All include one or two bedrooms, two baths, and one- or two-car garages. Residents 55 and older enjoy the spectacular Christopher Cummins-designed, 18-hole golf course, outdoor pool and spa, tennis courts, basketball courts, and shuffleboard. The on-site clubhouse includes an indoor pool, a state-of-the-art fitness center, arts and crafts, and gathering rooms. Residents can easily explore the surrounding Jersey Shore and all the nearby shopping, dining, and medical facilities.
