If you are looking to retire and you like gardening, then you should consider a move to The Garden State.
Gardening is not all that New Jersey has to offer to the 13.5% of its population that is 65 and older. New Jersey’s best places to retire are some of the safest, most affordable places in the state. Not that New Jerseyans need to worry about affordability. They are after all one of the richest and safest states in America.
How did we created a list of the best places to retire in New Jersey for 2024? We used Saturday Night Science to analyze the latest Census and FBI data on affordability and safety. We limited the analysis to the 98 New Jersey cities with more than 10,000 residents.
Additionally, to make our list, the city also had to be close to an international airport and have decent rental deals.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In New Jersey For 2024
If you’re retired in the greater Newark and Jersey City area, you’re in prime New Jersey retiree land.
Where is the best place to retire in New Jersey? According to the latest FBI and Census data, Lincoln Park is the best place in New Jersey to retire for 2024.
To learn more about the top ten, grab a Brunswick bagel, find a sunny spot at the Jersey Shore, and read on.
Why did Lincoln Park take the top spot? And where are Newark and Paterson?
For more New Jersey state reading:
- Best Places To Live In New Jersey
- Cheapest Places To Live In New Jersey
- Best Places To Raise A Family In New Jersey
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In New Jersey For 2024
/10
Population: 10,884
Median Income: $112,056
Median Home Price: $465,030
Median Rent: $1,655
Distance to Closest Airport: 17 miles
More on Lincoln Park: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 12,080
Median Income: $114,219
Median Home Price: $603,225
Median Rent: $1,587
Distance to Closest Airport: 12 miles
More on Hasbrouck Heights: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 10,954
Median Income: $72,722
Median Home Price: $496,208
Median Rent: $1,705
Distance to Closest Airport: 12 miles
More on Little Ferry: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 13,595
Median Income: $167,188
Median Home Price: $806,187
Median Rent: $1,896
Distance to Closest Airport: 12 miles
More on New Providence: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 13,964
Median Income: $97,769
Median Home Price: $481,750
Median Rent: $1,455
Distance to Closest Airport: 5 miles
More on Roselle Park: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 15,206
Median Income: $64,130
Median Home Price: $287,518
Median Rent: $1,120
Distance to Closest Airport: 13 miles
More on Phillipsburg: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 12,734
Median Income: $162,848
Median Home Price: $624,707
Median Rent: $1,520
Distance to Closest Airport: 23 miles
More on Oakland: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 18,754
Median Income: $128,576
Median Home Price: $638,326
Median Rent: $1,700
Distance to Closest Airport: 9 miles
More on Rutherford: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 18,014
Median Income: $116,708
Median Home Price: $543,620
Median Rent: $1,710
Distance to Closest Airport: 19 miles
More on Dumont: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 12,456
Median Income: $178,362
Median Home Price: $698,505
Median Rent: $1,711
Distance to Closest Airport: 11 miles
More on Haddonfield: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Garden State for 2024
To create our ranking of the best places in New Jersey to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Garden State — 543 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 10,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 98 places from across the state.
For these 98, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 98, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Lincoln Park, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2024. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in New Jersey.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In New Jersey Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in New Jersey goes to Lincoln Park.
The best places to retire in New Jersey are Lincoln Park, Hasbrouck Heights, Little Ferry, New Providence, Roselle Park, Phillipsburg, Oakland, Rutherford, Dumont, and Haddonfield.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Somerville
- Bound Brook
- Beachwood
For more New Jersey reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In New Jersey
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lincoln Park | 10,884 | $112,056 | $465,030 | $1,655 |
| 2 | Hasbrouck Heights | 12,080 | $114,219 | $603,225 | $1,587 |
| 3 | Little Ferry | 10,954 | $72,722 | $496,208 | $1,705 |
| 4 | New Providence | 13,595 | $167,188 | $806,187 | $1,896 |
| 5 | Roselle Park | 13,964 | $97,769 | $481,750 | $1,455 |
| 6 | Phillipsburg | 15,206 | $64,130 | $287,518 | $1,120 |
| 7 | Oakland | 12,734 | $162,848 | $624,707 | $1,520 |
| 8 | Rutherford | 18,754 | $128,576 | $638,326 | $1,700 |
| 9 | Dumont | 18,014 | $116,708 | $543,620 | $1,710 |
| 10 | Haddonfield | 12,456 | $178,362 | $698,505 | $1,711 |