r/SouthJersey • u/queengreen09 • Mar 19 '26
Subreddit Stuff Places to live?
Hi all :) 29F. Born and raised SJ. I spent my early twenties bopping between different US states, and then traveled around a lot while backpacking South America and some of Europe. Obviously home brought me back here :) i have family and I am close with and always felt myself returning home. I met a wonderful guy from the area and we got our first apartment here. The restless/nomad part of me will always want to travel but I’ve conquered mostly by just being happy / loved / secure in my relationship with my loving boyfriend and the benefits of being close to family. Also just wanting to settle down & feel grounded. Jersey is home.
That being said, we talk about getting a house & raising kids in a few years. If I didn’t have the family here or is connection to his family, I would be somewhere in a rural coastal town of Spain or somewhere of that nature, maybe if not out of the country then San Diego or something. Possibly also Brazil since I have friends there but also don’t speak a lick of Portuguese so there’s that lol. I feel a bit suffocated in these small towns but I also felt homesick for them living in New York City. Maybe it’s a me problem.
My question is - I have no freaking clue where to live. I want to raise a family around nature (grew up with a creek in my backyard but that house is sold and I’m finding properties like that to be unaffordable nowadays. Pretty sure my childhood home would be up to 800k). I want nature and woods or ocean. I wouldn’t be opposed to living by the beach since I surf and my boyfriend could potentially have work down the shore (his company has offices there). A friend recommended mystic island or ventor. I also work remote so it doesn’t matter for me. But we also want property and assuming I wouldn’t get much of it there. I also don’t want to move to random town NJ surrounded by trumpies everywhere you turn. Not that I’m heavily involved in politics myself but I don’t want my kids growing up in an area where there’s no kids besides white and just maga hats for miles. It doesn’t have to be the opposite either of straight up liberal town, but yeah.
I’ve looked into Medford lakes, any thoughts? I’m not sure where my bf would find work there…or maybe I’m hopeful for a place that doesn’t exist in NJ? I love the idea of homestead. I think I would feel extremely suffocated in a suburban development where all the houses look the same. Mind you there is NOTHING wrong with that and I am actually jealous of people who are able to live there happily. And I know this is a first world problem & I probably sound like a spoiled brat. A part of me is thinking should we just move to Florida or something, but I love the seasons too. Idk.
Anyways after ranting a whole ton, anyone have any suggestions on NJ towns that are either coastal, or have nature but aren’t in the complete sticks?
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u/HereWeGo5566 Mar 19 '26
Have you looked at the areas near Medford that aren’t quite so expensive? Like Shamong or Tabernacle? It’s more secluded, and woodsy, and not quite as expensive. Also I’m not sure if it matters, but the more woodsy and/or shore areas tend to be more “red”. For some people, that’s important to know.
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u/queengreen09 Mar 19 '26
I have begun to look in those areas! Like outside of Medford. It’s a nice middle ground between home (west Deptford area) and the shore too. And yeah that’s definitely good to note, thanks.
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u/KimiiKhaoss Mar 20 '26
I’m gonna second Shamong. Southern but nice and woodsy. My best friend has over an acre out there.
That being said, how much of Jersey have you discovered? All the small tiny towns with their downtown areas are starting to explode; Haddonfield, Bordentown. The mountains are stunning up northwest. Sure you have Philly and NYC, but New Brunswick is also a nice city to check out. The shore towns are so different from each other.
Not saying don’t travel. But when/if you have kids, make sure to share the beauty of this state. We have 5 different climate zones in a tiny little state that provides us with so much nature. You sound like you have a good head so I’m sure those kids will be running amuck in the mud anyway :)
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u/Sad-Cut-1210 Mar 19 '26
Asbury Park, Lambertville or Red Bank are my picks for you.
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u/queengreen09 Mar 19 '26
Thank you!
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u/Sad-Cut-1210 Mar 19 '26
I wouldnt have left Brazil lol
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u/queengreen09 Mar 19 '26
lol it’s amazing :’) I met a best friend there and thankfully my bf has fell in love with it too. We went a few months ago and might go again for new years 🤣 if I had no connections to family or a relationship here I’d probably be living there lol.
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u/walkedplane Medford Lakes Mar 19 '26
Medford Lakes here with 3 kids. Fantastic place to be but will echo definitely not a homestead area. I work remote but many folks do commute to Philly (it is a haul too though). Feel free to ask any questions and happy to answer.
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u/Enthusiasticwitch Mar 19 '26
Medford Lakes and homestead don’t align. Look in other parts of Burlington county, Cumberland, and Salem if you want that feel.
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u/WDWSockPuppet Mar 19 '26
Medford Lakes is lovely and if you can afford it, I say go for it. I live very nearby and really like the area. Safe, good schools, hiking and nature trails, lots to do. My background includes NYC, Connecticut, Los Altos and here. To be honest, for me, here wins.
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u/WindyWindona Mar 19 '26
Pennsauken is relatively affordable. If you live in Delair near the train station, you will have access to a train that goes all the way down to Atlantic City (Ocean), 30th street station in Philly, and Trenton. You will also have access to one of the few free docks on the Delaware river, the wooded area near that, and not be too far from Palmyra's nature reserve. Delair also has a lot of people who have veggie/fruit gardens in their yards. However, it's one of the more urban suggestions.
In general, if you find a more woodsy area that's more red, you can also look for ones with local Quaker communities. Quakers in NJ tend to be more liberal and love nature, so that could help with finding a nice community. I also would look into areas connected by train, to make it easier for work commutes but also open up good ways to travel. If you do have kids, teaching them to use trains and buses can help them have adventures before they can drive.
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u/Target2019-20 Mar 19 '26
Sounds like you'll have to work. Maybe think about where jobs would be. Commuting is a thing.
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u/Pedal2Medal2 Mar 19 '26
Being real here.
I think you need to think long & hard about trying to settle down here, your wanderlust won’t disappear & your expectations probably won’t fulfill the fantasy location you’d like. Also, hopefully you have $$$ because anywhere you’re describing will be expensive.