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 2025? We used Saturday Night Science to analyze the latest Census and FBI data on affordability and safety. We limited the analysis to the 88 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 2025
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, New Providence is the best place in New Jersey to retire for 2025.
To learn more about the top ten, grab a Brunswick bagel, find a sunny spot at the Jersey Shore, and read on.
Why did New Providence 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 2025
/10
Population: 13,577
Median Income: $162,877
Median Home Price: $734,300
Median Rent: $1,906
Distance to Closest Airport: 12 miles
More on New Providence: Data
/10
Population: 12,067
Median Income: $118,670
Median Home Price: $508,500
Median Rent: $1,605
Distance to Closest Airport: 12 miles
More on Hasbrouck Heights: Data
/10
Population: 13,965
Median Income: $104,418
Median Home Price: $405,800
Median Rent: $1,585
Distance to Closest Airport: 5 miles
More on Roselle Park: Data
/10
Population: 15,251
Median Income: $67,782
Median Home Price: $180,700
Median Rent: $1,118
Distance to Closest Airport: 13 miles
More on Phillipsburg: Data
/10
Population: 10,901
Median Income: $119,000
Median Home Price: $419,500
Median Rent: $1,824
Distance to Closest Airport: 17 miles
More on Lincoln Park: Data
/10
Population: 12,700
Median Income: $162,862
Median Home Price: $567,200
Median Rent: $1,462
Distance to Closest Airport: 23 miles
More on Oakland: Data
/10
Population: 18,748
Median Income: $136,069
Median Home Price: $580,800
Median Rent: $1,859
Distance to Closest Airport: 9 miles
More on Rutherford: Data
/10
Population: 11,600
Median Income: $142,529
Median Home Price: $434,800
Median Rent: $1,934
Distance to Closest Airport: 28 miles
More on Ringwood: Data
/10
Population: 12,024
Median Income: $155,827
Median Home Price: $637,500
Median Rent: $1,811
Distance to Closest Airport: 17 miles
More on River Edge: Data
/10
Population: 22,512
Median Income: $199,107
Median Home Price: $969,900
Median Rent: $2,308
Distance to Closest Airport: 10 miles
More on Summit: Data
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Garden State for 2025
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 88 places from across the state.
For these 88, 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 88, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case New Providence, 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 2025. 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 New Providence.
The best places to retire in New Jersey are New Providence, Hasbrouck Heights, Roselle Park, Phillipsburg, Lincoln Park, Oakland, Rutherford, Ringwood, River Edge, and Summit.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Somerville
- Long Branch
- Elmwood Park
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 | New Providence | 13,577 | $162,877 | $734,300 | $1,906 |
| 2 | Hasbrouck Heights | 12,067 | $118,670 | $508,500 | $1,605 |
| 3 | Roselle Park | 13,965 | $104,418 | $405,800 | $1,585 |
| 4 | Phillipsburg | 15,251 | $67,782 | $180,700 | $1,118 |
| 5 | Lincoln Park | 10,901 | $119,000 | $419,500 | $1,824 |
| 6 | Oakland | 12,700 | $162,862 | $567,200 | $1,462 |
| 7 | Rutherford | 18,748 | $136,069 | $580,800 | $1,859 |
| 8 | Ringwood | 11,600 | $142,529 | $434,800 | $1,934 |
| 9 | River Edge | 12,024 | $155,827 | $637,500 | $1,811 |
| 10 | Summit | 22,512 | $199,107 | $969,900 | $2,308 |