There seems to be a list for everything nowadays. The best of this, the top 10 of that, the worst place to do such and such.
Last week, we came across a list that took us by surprise. It is a list of the top 10 places to retire … in New Jersey. Yup. New Jersey. We didn’t even realize that staying in the Garden State after working age was still an option — or, rather, something that people desired.
Anywho, Movoto Real Estate published the list, starting with places that had at least 10,000 residents (110 places), then ranking them based on four interesting criteria:
1.) Cost of living — higher is better, because when you’ve worked all your life, what you really want to do is have your money go toward taxes and not that trip to Rome
2.) Crime rate — lower is better, well, obviously
3.) Amenities — places such as libraries, physicians, arts and entertainment, and adult education
4.) Weather — average summer temperature and air quality score, which eliminates Newark
So, by these rankings, the top 10 places to retire in New Jersey, from one to 10, are:
Ridgewood, Tenafly, Westwood, Glen Rock, Haddonfield, Florham Park, Madison, Hasbrouck Heights, Princeton and Ridgefield
To be sure, these are all wonderfully beautifully places in New Jersey, well worth celebrating and very attractive for residents and visitors alike.
But retirement? We’re not so sure that many elderly residents would agree with you.
There’s a reason why so many New Jerseyans retire elsewhere — it’s cheaper. And, in contrast to Movoto’s interpretation of the list’s criteria, cheaper is better, because most people would rather see their hard-earned money go toward vacations than taxes, for example. Many retirees go to Florida not just for the weather but for the absence of a state income tax.
Maybe if New Jersey was more affordable, more elderly residents would stay at home, near their friends and family. But since it’s not, many don’t.
We are probably not the only ones who laughed when we considered any place in New Jersey — other than, say, a beach town such as Ocean City (which ranked No. 26 on the list, behind places such as Hoboken) — a “good” place to retire. And that’s a shame, and a problem all at the same time.
Our residents shouldn’t have to prepare to leave when they retire.
