6 Towns Perfect for Retirement in New Jersey

New Jersey is often overlooked by those who don't know it. It may be because it is next to one of the most central states and areas in the entire world, but the fact remains that The Garden State is a place of wonder and attractions. While it does tend to lean towards the pricier side, there are still gems worth finding and small towns worth visiting or even retiring to. In this spirit, here are some of the hard-to-find beauties that New Jersey has to offer.

Frenchtown

While Frenchtown caters to a certain crowd ($640,000 is the median listing for a home), and with a median household income of nearly $100,000, Frenchtown considers and ensures life is good for its mature residents and wealthier residents (40 is the median age).

Proof of this is to be found in its small-town charm and atmosphere. Small shops and historic buildings line the town square, and among them are specialties that exist nowhere else. Places like the Gemstone Gallery or the ArtYard exhibit showcase the town's more artistic and appreciative qualities, and if one wants to travel along the perimeter, the historic and robust Uhlerstown-Frenchtown Bridge is free to use, view, and also provides a scenic route between The Garden State and Pennsylvania.

Frenchtown, then, is exactly what it proclaims to be: a small town of no small significance, peace, quietude, and a rich cultural air.

Asbury Park

More modern and with a higher listing median on homes ($792,000), Asbury Park shares a warm statistic, with 12.6% of the population being over 65 years of age. Dealing with a more technologically advanced locale also means the surrounding area is littered with healthcare facilities (such as the VNA Community Health Center).

However, the real eye-catcher is in the entertainment, as Asbury offers many unique and interesting spots. The Asbury Park Boardwalk, for one, offers all things right by the sea, and whether an entertainment center is not enough or if a view of the horizon is, Asbury takes pride in its creation. For the odd, the town is also known as "The Paranormal Museum- Paranormal Books & Curiosities."

Despite all that, Asbury Park manages to deliver a solid time and is worthy of a place by the coast.

Chester

Noted for its colorful autumn and verdant flower glades, Chester is that small town that every town strives to be. With nearly a fifth of the town over the age of 65 (17.2%) and plenty of emergency and regular medical facilities in the vicinity (see Excel Urgent Care of Chester), Chester is a welcome surprise for those looking to make it a forever home.

Chester's natural beauty is arguably unmatched, and locals are well aware, with many businesses and shops highlighting the area's natural surroundings. For example, Alstede Farms offers the freshest produce in an open-air market that ensures customer satisfaction. Visitors looking to explore Chester have several parks at their disposal, with Black River Fields Park being the most renowned—a sprawling nearly 600-acre area filled with tall trees, streams, and dense thickets.

Spring Lake

Spring Lake sits on the beautiful coast of the North Atlantic Ocean. To outsiders, it's a cozy town with a relaxing beachside atmosphere. To residents, it's heaven in the sand.

Spring Lake has a population of fewer than 3,000 people, with a median age of 58.6 and an average gross rent of $2,134. The area is famous for its beach theme and iconic coastline. Visitors can explore the history at the 1896 Sea Girt Lighthouse, which offers guided tours, or enjoy a peaceful walk along Spring Lake Beach. With its boardwalks, Americana architecture, and sandy beaches, this place makes it easy for visitors to feel like locals—just a view of the shoreline and a night under cool sea breezes are enough.

Wildwood

Though it may not commonly be on lists about retirement in New Jersey, Wildwood is, in fact, an underappreciated town of beauty, culture, and art. With 17.1% of the town's population over the age of 60 and the median house listing at $549,900, the numbers do no justice to what Wildwood has to offer.

Once a vibrant resort town, Wildwood still preserves its nostalgic charm and the 1969 marvel, Morey's Piers and Beachfront Water Parks. True to their name, the pier attractions evoke a sense of innocence from a bygone era. Reflecting the spirit of the 50s and 60s, institutions like the Doo Wop Preservation League museum further attest to this historical ambiance.

It is in these circumstances and places that the spirit of Wildwood is at its best: a town with a strong dedication to the aesthetic of the past and the future but open to all who want to live life a bit more slowly and perhaps revel in the timeless.

Montclair

Montclair is the world meant for art and art appreciators. With a hardy town of nearly 40,000 people, $2,147 as the gross median rent, and a slightly younger median age of 33.9, the town lends itself to a sophistication not found in many other places. Noted for its massive museums and galleries, Montclair has also become the place for artists looking to escape the day-to-day drivel that modern life demands.

Eventually, the artist's path would result in the establishment of institutions like the Montclair Art Museum, which now enjoy international acclaim. Celebrating thousands of works by American and Native American artists, Montclair stands out as a top hub for creativity. Even their botanical gardens, the Van Vleck House & Gardens, showcase their charm by enveloping a 140-year-old building with climbing flowers amid acres of vibrant, exotic plants.

It is here that Montclair should be on every travel list for the artist and maybe even become a permanent home for those serious with artistic inclinations.

While there are many colorful places to live and settle down, New Jersey ought to be at the top of that list. If not only for the quality and uniqueness of its towns, the sheer number of them that offer a spectrum of diverse things should not be overlooked. Often, it is in the overlooked towns where something of value hides in plain sight.