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 2026? We used Saturday Night Science to analyze the latest Census and FBI data on affordability and safety. We limited the analysis to the 90 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 2026
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 2026.
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 2026
/10
Population: 13,727
Median Income: $161,599
Median Home Price: $990,084
Median Rent: $1,903
Distance to Closest Airport: 12 miles
More on New Providence: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 14,093
Median Income: $109,679
Median Home Price: $538,084
Median Rent: $1,663
Distance to Closest Airport: 5 miles
More on Roselle Park: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 12,115
Median Income: $123,734
Median Home Price: $709,659
Median Rent: $1,700
Distance to Closest Airport: 12 miles
More on Hasbrouck Heights: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,042
Median Income: $77,028
Median Home Price: $336,566
Median Rent: $990
Distance to Closest Airport: 5 miles
More on Woodbury: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 11,657
Median Income: $152,414
Median Home Price: $596,571
Median Rent: $1,750
Distance to Closest Airport: 28 miles
More on Ringwood: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,957
Median Income: $123,397
Median Home Price: $534,178
Median Rent: $1,857
Distance to Closest Airport: 17 miles
More on Lincoln Park: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 22,705
Median Income: $190,304
Median Home Price: $1,372,010
Median Rent: $2,430
Distance to Closest Airport: 10 miles
More on Summit: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 12,768
Median Income: $162,019
Median Home Price: $750,020
Median Rent: $1,383
Distance to Closest Airport: 23 miles
More on Oakland: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 12,091
Median Income: $159,028
Median Home Price: $839,655
Median Rent: $1,879
Distance to Closest Airport: 17 miles
More on River Edge: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,144
Median Income: $186,688
Median Home Price: $843,787
Median Rent: $1,764
Distance to Closest Airport: 22 miles
More on Hillsdale: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Garden State for 2026
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 90 places from across the state.
For these 90, 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 90, 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 2026. This list reflects our eleventh 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, Roselle Park, Hasbrouck Heights, Woodbury, Ringwood, Lincoln Park, Summit, Oakland, River Edge, and Hillsdale.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Long Branch
- Somerville
- Secaucus
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 | 13,727 | $161,599 | $990,084 | $1,903 |
| 2 | Roselle Park | 14,093 | $109,679 | $538,084 | $1,663 |
| 3 | Hasbrouck Heights | 12,115 | $123,734 | $709,659 | $1,700 |
| 4 | Woodbury | 10,042 | $77,028 | $336,566 | $990 |
| 5 | Ringwood | 11,657 | $152,414 | $596,571 | $1,750 |
| 6 | Lincoln Park | 10,957 | $123,397 | $534,178 | $1,857 |
| 7 | Summit | 22,705 | $190,304 | $1,372,010 | $2,430 |
| 8 | Oakland | 12,768 | $162,019 | $750,020 | $1,383 |
| 9 | River Edge | 12,091 | $159,028 | $839,655 | $1,879 |
| 10 | Hillsdale | 10,144 | $186,688 | $843,787 | $1,764 |