If the first thing that comes to mind when you think of New Jersey is Tony Soprano or the cast from The Jersey Shore, it’s time to take another look at the Garden State. New Jersey is a hidden gem for retirees featuring a prime location, diversity, and great educational opportunities for retirees.
Take a closer look at why you should consider retiring in New Jersey.
Retiring in New Jersey
1. Location, location, location!
If you like the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple or the City of Brotherly Love but want to balance it with more residential life, you can’t beat living in New Jersey. With easy access to New York City and even Manhattan skyline views, retiring in New Jersey bring the best of both worlds. Enjoy a night on Broadway and a coffee from your local mom and pop shop the next morning. Retirees in New Jersey have the best of both worlds.
2. Diversity allows room for everyone
New Jersey is an incredibly diverse state, welcoming people from all backgrounds, cultures, and walks of life. WalletHub has ranked Jersey City as the second most diverse city in America while the entire state claims the fourth most ethnically diverse slot, meaning that no matter who you are or where you come from, there’s a place for you in the Garden State.
3. Increase your chances for a long, healthy life
Although one of the best places to grab a slice of pizza, New Jersey is ranked among the least obese states, they use less tobacco products than most of the country, and their life expectancy ranks in the top 10.
4. Gain access to world-renowned health care
With nationally ranked hospitals throughout the state, retiring in New Jersey brings convenient access to great health care. Morristown Medical Center is the number one ranked hospital in New Jersey according to U.S. News and World Report and is nationally ranked in two specialties and high performing in five adult specialties and nine procedures. Closely followed by Hackensack University Medical Center and Saint Barnabas Medical Center, there’s no shortage of healthcare for those choosing to retire in New Jersey.
5. Beaches
Although one of the smaller states, New Jersey boasts 44 beaches and nearly 130 miles of coastline. The state has beaches that range from tourist destinations, amusement parks, boardwalks, and quiet beachside towns. Asbury Park Beach is consistently ranked as the number one beach in New Jersey, featuring one mile of white sand, known for its boardwalks and songs from Bruce Springsteen. Point Pleasant is another popular beach destination for retirees in New Jersey. Known for crystal clear water and home to Jenkinson’s Aquarium and Jenkinson’s Boardwalk, there’s an abundance of outdoor activities and beach locations for seniors who retire in New Jersey.
6. A mild climate with four distinct seasons
New Jersey is flanked by the Atlantic Ocean and the Delaware River with a fairly moderate climate. Retiring in New Jersey will bring four distinct seasons that are full and vibrant. Winters are cold, summers are hot and humid with fall and spring being distinctly cool and comfortable. The average summer temperature is 74°F and the average winter temperature is 30°F, although temperatures can vary in the north and south of the state.
7. There’s a reason they call it “The Garden State”
New Jersey packs a lot of outdoor recreation opportunities and natural beauty for retirees. 22% of New Jersey’s land area is the Pinelands, sprawling farms, forests, and wetlands with extensive hiking and biking trails. In the north part of the state, the Delaware Water Gap creates the border between New Jersey and Pennsylvania with 37 miles of riverfront and miles of tree-lined hiking paths. The Delaware Water Gap also has 27 miles of the Appalachian Trail and 30 miles of biking trails.
In addition to the natural beauty of the state, New Jersey has an abundance of farmer’s markets and roadside farm stands. In fact, there are approximately 145 community farmer’s markets across the state and New Jersey ranks third nationally in the cranberry production and fourth in tomatoes, bell peppers, peaches, and cucumbers.
8. Cape May
One of the oldest resort towns in America, Cape May is a Historic National Landmark with tree-lined, gas-lamp lit streets, and more than 600 Victorian homes. With 2 miles of uncrowded beaches and easily walkable, Cape May is a great place for retirees to plan reunions, getaway, or just relax. Don’t forget to plan your meals here, Cape May was named one of the nation’s top 20 food cities by Conde Nast Traveler Magazine.
9. Continuing education opportunities for retirees
Retiring in New Jersey will bring new opportunities to start or continue your education. Most of the public universities and colleges offer senior citizen tuition waivers. According to this waiver, public institutions in the state may waive tuition for students 65 years or older, provided there is space and that tuition-paying students constitute the minimum number required for the course. Courses can be for credit or non-credit and the school may require registration fees.
10. Your grandchildren will love visiting you!
New Jersey is both a bustling metropolitan area and a cozy beach destination – suburbs and city and country, all rolled into one. Take your grandchildren into New York City for a show, spend the day relaxing at the beach, or hit one of the numerous children’s museums throughout the state. No matter why you retire in New Jersey, you’ll find your family will love visiting you!
Choosing to Retire in New Jersey
Now that you know New Jersey is the state to spend your golden years, what next? How do you make retirement in New Jersey happen? First, you will need to create a budget and estimate your living expenses. Comb through your current expenses and determine how much you spend each month that you may not have to once you move to a community because so much of senior living is all-inclusive. Consider how much is spent monthly on food, utilities, healthcare, house maintenance, and homeownership costs. Once you have a good understanding of how much it costs to live on your own, you will have a more comprehensive understanding of the cost of senior living.
You will also want to think through what is included in the New Jersey retirement community you are considering. Many Leisure Care retirement communities in New Jersey include a wide range of amenities including,
- Regular housekeeping and linen services
- True restaurant dining, with made to order meals
- Engaging activities and social events
- Home maintenance and yard work
- Gym memberships and fitness classes through PrimeFit
- Language lessons
- Travel opportunities
- Assisted living and memory care services, if needed
Exactly how much your monthly rate is will depend on the care being received, amenities being used, and apartment was chosen. The average cost of assisted living in New Jersey is $6,400 per month for assisted living care in a senior community.
Your Dream Retirement on Your Budget
From traveling the world to exploring your own backyard, Leisure Care living is fun and easy. We offer assisted living and memory care services at Leisure Care communities in New Jersey. We will work closely with you and your family to create a lifestyle that meets care and budget needs while making the most of every day of retirement. Five-star fun. Five-star service. That’s our promise.
It’s your time to build your future. Contact us today to get started.
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