Best counties to retire to in New Jersey
Best counties to retire to in New Jersey
Buyers and sellers of real estate alike—when asked what the three most essential considerations about a property are—will nearly always reply "location, location, location." While this answer is sometimes tongue-in-cheek, it is often quite accurate, and this reply perhaps applies to retirees more than any other demographic. Settling down after a lifetime of working and possibly raising a family calls for the perfect location: a spot where you can enjoy life with as few concerns as possible.
When seniors aged 65 or older decide where they want to live out their golden years, they consider particular factors, such as the cost of living, government services, health care facilities, weather and overall climate, crime rate, outdoor recreational activities, eating establishments, cultural and entertainment opportunities, and more.
To find the best counties to retire to in New Jersey based on these criteria, Stacker compiled a list using 2025 rankings from Niche, which ranks counties based on cost of living, health care access, recreation, weather, and more. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.
While location is critical as retirees determine where to spend their senior years enjoying favorite activities, it's a unique decision based on many preferences and needs. Whether it be bustling downtowns or access to parks, affordable home prices or cultural amenities like museums, retirees seeking to settle in a permanent spot are sure to find a private paradise in any of these counties recommended by Niche because, in the end, there is no place like home—no matter the location.
Read on to discover the best counties to retire to in New Jersey.
#21. Cumberland County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C-), cost of living (C), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 152,915
- Median household income: $64,499
- Median home value: $205,600
- Top places to live: Hopewell Township (B-), Stow Creek Township (B-), Vineland (C+)
#20. Passaic County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C), cost of living (C-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 518,289
- Median household income: $87,137
- Median home value: $439,400
- Top places to live: Wayne Township (A), Ringwood (A-), Pompton Lakes (A-)
#19. Essex County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C), cost of living (D+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 854,130
- Median household income: $76,712
- Median home value: $494,400
- Top places to live: Glen Ridge (A+), Upper Montclair (A+), Livingston Township (A+)
#18. Hudson County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C), cost of living (C-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 710,478
- Median household income: $90,032
- Median home value: $508,600
- Top places to live: Hoboken (A+), Secaucus (A+), Waterfront (A+)
#17. Union County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (C-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 572,549
- Median household income: $100,117
- Median home value: $488,800
- Top places to live: Summit (A+), Berkeley Heights Township (A+), New Providence (A+)
#16. Sussex County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (C), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 145,117
- Median household income: $114,316
- Median home value: $342,800
- Top places to live: Lake Mohawk (A-), Stanhope (A-), Andover Township (A-)
#15. Warren County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (C), weather (C), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 110,238
- Median household income: $99,596
- Median home value: $323,100
- Top places to live: Brass Castle (A-), Beattystown (B+), Panther Valley (B)
#14. Atlantic County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (C), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 274,704
- Median household income: $76,819
- Median home value: $272,700
- Top places to live: Linwood (A), Northfield (A), Margate City (A-)
#13. Camden County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (C), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 524,042
- Median household income: $86,384
- Median home value: $262,200
- Top places to live: Haddonfield (A+), Springdale (A+), Greentree (A+)
#12. Salem County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (C+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 64,973
- Median household income: $78,412
- Median home value: $223,000
- Top places to live: Woodstown (B+), Mannington Township (B+), Pilesgrove Township (B)
#11. Gloucester County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (C), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 304,504
- Median household income: $102,807
- Median home value: $283,500
- Top places to live: Mullica Hill (A), Wenonah (A), Richwood (A-)
#10. Mercer County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (C-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 383,286
- Median household income: $96,333
- Median home value: $351,000
- Top places to live: Princeton (A+), Princeton Junction (A+), Pennington (A+)
#9. Middlesex County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (C-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 861,535
- Median household income: $109,028
- Median home value: $439,300
- Top places to live: Metuchen (A+), Plainsboro Center (A+), Cranbury (A+)
#8. Burlington County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (C), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 464,226
- Median household income: $105,271
- Median home value: $326,700
- Top places to live: Moorestown Township (A+), Chesterfield Township (A+), Medford Township (A)
#7. Ocean County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (C-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 646,434
- Median household income: $86,411
- Median home value: $366,600
- Top places to live: Point Pleasant Beach (A), Bay Head (A), Beach Haven (A)
#6. Somerset County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (C), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 346,203
- Median household income: $135,960
- Median home value: $523,900
- Top places to live: Bernardsville (A+), Montgomery Township (A+), Green Brook Township (A+)
#5. Morris County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (C), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 510,375
- Median household income: $134,929
- Median home value: $557,000
- Top places to live: Mountain Lakes (A+), Chatham Township (A+), Madison (A+)
#4. Hunterdon County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (C), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 129,448
- Median household income: $139,453
- Median home value: $498,800
- Top places to live: Raritan Township (A+), Clinton (A), Bethlehem Township (A)
#3. Bergen County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (C-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 954,717
- Median household income: $123,715
- Median home value: $593,200
- Top places to live: Ho-Ho-Kus (A+), Ridgewood (A+), River Edge (A+)
#2. Monmouth County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (C-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 643,615
- Median household income: $122,727
- Median home value: $566,500
- Top places to live: Fair Haven (A+), Little Silver (A+), Robertsville (A+)
#1. Cape May County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (C), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 95,236
- Median household income: $88,046
- Median home value: $395,000
- Top places to live: Avalon (A), Ocean City (A), Cape May (A-)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
