Manahawkin, NJ 55+ Active Adult Retirement Communities

Overview 

Manahawkin is a small coastal community in New Jersey. Active adults can enjoy local shopping, festivals, and golfing within the tight-knit community. As one of the more affordable coastal towns with easy access to amenities and activities in Long Beach Island, Manahwkin is becoming an increasingly popular destination for retirees.

Climate & Geography 

Manahawkin is a Census-Designated Place (CDP) within Stafford Township in Southern New Jersey. It borders on having a subtropical and continental climate, meaning residents experience hot, humid summers as well as cool winters with some freezing temperatures and snowfall. Its proximity to the ocean does help regulate temperatures and prevent extremes. There is higher than average rainfall and about 206 days of sunshine each year. 

Route 72 runs along the entire southwestern border of the CDP, which provides the sole road access to the communities and coasts of Long Island Beach.

Recreation, Culture, & Entertainment 

Much of Manahawkin’s community revolves around the Manahawkin Lake Park in the northwest edge of the CDP, where residents can enjoy picnics, hiking, and boating. The park also hosts several annual festivals, including the Fall Harvest and Wine Festival, Craft Beer and Music Festival, and the Makers Festival, which celebrates local and handcrafted art, goods, and food. 

Though the community does not have a traditional downtown, residents can visit the local boutiques of the Manahawkin Shoppes. On weekends, the Manahawkin Flea Market opens, with over 80 merchants in both indoor and outdoor shops and a Saturday farmers market.

Residents can also go golfing at the Ocean Acres Golf Course and enjoy local craft beer at the ManaFirkin Brewery.

Cost of Living & Taxes 

The cost of living for Manahawkin is higher than the national average, but lower than the state of New Jersey. Housing is the biggest reason for this increase, and groceries, transportation, and utilities also hover slightly above average. Health care is below the national average.

New Jersey tends to score as a moderately tax friendly state for retirees. While there is no tax levied against Social Security, other forms of retirement income are partially taxed and there are some deductions available. While sales taxes are typical relative to the U.S. average, property taxes are the highest in the country. 

Health Care

On Gallup’s Well-Being Index, New Jersey scores high for the social and physical factors, meaning residents have positive and loving relationships as well as generally good physical health.

Although there are no nationally ranked hospitals in Manahawkin, Hackensack Meridian Health Southern Ocean Medical Center within the CDP and Community Medical Center-Toms River, 20 miles away in Toms River, are both rated as high performing by U.S. News.