Old Bridge, NJ 55+ Active Adult Retirement Communities

Overview 

Old Bridge is a township on the coast of New Jersey, offering active adults plentiful hiking, shopping, and community events. Residents enjoy the serenity of Old Bridge’s nature preserves while also being close to major metropolitan areas. In addition, pleasant seasonal temperatures and easy beach access make Old Bridge a popular destination for retirees.

Climate & Geography 

Located in Central New Jersey, Old Bridge borders New York along the Raritan Bay. Residents can expect higher than average rain, average snowfall, and nearly 206 days of sun each year. Summers tend to be hot and slightly humid, and winters are cold with freezing temperatures, but sea breezes can help regulate some of these extreme temperatures. Old Bridge can experience excessive snowfall because it is on the typical path for nor’easters (winter coastal storms). 

Old Bridge is considered a “bedroom suburb” of New York City, a residential city of daily commuters, because of its proximity to Staten Island. The Garden State Parkway cuts through the city, providing direct access to Newark.

Recreation, Culture, & Entertainment 

One of Old Bridge’s biggest draws is its abundance of natural space. Cheesequake State Park on the eastern edge of the city is a 386-acre park made up of open fields saltwater and freshwater marshes, and five designated hiking and mountain biking trails. In the middle of the park, residents can go swimming at Hooks Creek Lake. In addition, the John A. Phillips Open Space preserve has 6.5 miles of marked or paved trails as well as a 1.5 mile self-guided nature trail.

Residents can find their daily needs and amenities at the Shoppes at Old Bridge, which has both high-end and boutique shopping and restaurants.

For entertainment, residents can visit the Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, the state’s premier motor sports park, as well as attend the annual Salt Water Day at Old Bridge Waterfront Park.

Cost of Living & Taxes 

The cost of living in Old Bridge is higher than the national average because of the costs of housing and transportation. These two factors are above both the New Jersey and national averages. Utilities and groceries hover just slightly above average, while health care is below.

Though New Jersey does not tax Social Security, it does partially tax other forms of retirement income. The state also has the highest property taxes in the country, and the city’s combined sales tax of 6.6 percent is about average.

Health Care

The greater New York and Newark metro area ranks in the top 75 communities of Gallup’s Well-Being Index. New Jersey ranks in the top 31 states according to the same poll, scoring highly in the social index.

Although there are no hospitals in Old Bridge, Hackensack Meridian Health Raritan Bay Medical Center, nine miles away, is rated by U.S. News as high performing. There are also two nationally ranked hospitals 10 miles away: Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and St. Peter’s University Hospital.