The Pros And Cons Of Living In Manchester NJ

Are you thinking about living in Manchester, New Jersey, and wonder what life is like here? In this episode of Real Estate Refined, I’m going to give you the pros and cons of living in Manchester Township, New Jersey. We’ll explore everything from adult communities to commute times so you know exactly what to expect.

Why People Love Manchester, NJ

If you’re considering living in Manchester, New Jersey, I’m going to share some of the great things about living here and some of the not-so-great things. We're going to start with the first reason why people love living here in Manchester, New Jersey: the large number of adult communities.

Adult Communities

Ocean County is home to over 100 adult communities, though Manchester has the top three adult communities in all of Ocean County. An adult community is an age-restricted community that allows residents of 55 years and up. This is a great opportunity for those of us that are getting to the point in our lives where we want to downsize not only the size of our home but our lifestyle as well. 

Adult communities also reduce the cost of care and maintenance of the home as well as the excessive wear and tear on our bodies while maintaining our home. My top three adult communities in Manchester Township are the Renaissance, Leisure Village West, and the Crestwood Villages. 

55+ Home Prices

Let's start with the Crestwood Villages, which are the most affordable of all the adult communities in Manchester Township. Here you will find a variety of co-ops all the way to single-family residences. Prices start at about $75,000 for a co-op and work their way up to about $250,000 to $300,000 for a single-family residence. 

In the middle is Leisure Village West, one of our largest adult communities, which offers a variety of detached and attached single-family homes. Prices range from $100,000 to about $300,000, depending on the size, bedrooms, baths, and amenities. 

The third—and probably most luxurious—is the Renaissance. This is an exclusive gated community with a golf course. A detached single-family home here is running between $400,000 up into the mid-$500,000s.

Affordable, Peaceful Living

The second reason people love living in Manchester is the lower cost of living. Compared to its neighbor in Toms River, the cost of housing in Manchester runs about $50,000 to $100,000 less. The only drawback is it's going to take you an additional 10 to 20 minutes to drive to the beach, boardwalk, or the Jersey Shore. 

The third reason people love living in Manchester is because of the peace and quiet. A large portion of Manchester is located in what we call the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, which gives you that wooded, country-living feel. 

The Cons

Now that we've talked about some of the reasons people love living here, let's talk about a few of the cons. If you decide to move here to Manchester, these are things you need to know. 

Traffic

The first con about living in Manchester is one we already touched on a little bit earlier: it's further away from the beach, further away from the shore, and further away from the boardwalk. It’s going to be about a half an hour drive to get to the beach. 

If you're not bothered by the extra half an hour it's going to take to get to the beach, then the summer traffic certainly is not going to bother you one bit. If you're unfamiliar with living at the Jersey Shore, from Memorial Day through Labor Day, Friday night through Sunday night, the Garden State Parkway is bumper-to-bumper traffic. 

Entertainment And Commuting

If the extra time getting to the beach and the summer traffic doesn't bother you, then leaving Manchester to find entertainment, nightlife, or even somewhere to eat isn't going to bother you either. There's really not much to do after dark in Manchester, New Jersey. 

For those of us who like to gamble, the average commute time to Atlantic City is about an hour. For those of us who want to catch a show, the average commute time to New York City is about an hour. If you’re a Phillies or Eagles fan, the average time to Philadelphia is also about an hour. 

Enjoy Manchester Living

I hope this video gave you a little insight into the pros and cons of living in Manchester, New Jersey. If you have any questions about selling or buying a house in Manchester, please feel free to reach out and I'd be happy to help. 

Don't forget to subscribe to our channel for more information about living in Ocean County, New Jersey. Stay tuned to the next episode of Real Estate Refined to see what I feature next!