If it feels like more people you know are retiring lately, that’s because they are.
A record number of Americans hit retirement age in 2025. Data from 401k Specialist shows that roughly 11,400 people turned 65 every single day last year. That adds up to more than four million new retirees in just one year. And once the paperwork is done, one question tends to come next: where to live.
Safety is often near the top of that list.
A recent study from Seniorly, a retirement resource center, looked at federal data across seven categories that matter most to older adults. That included crime, scams targeting seniors, road safety, falls, public safety access, and healthcare availability. After comparing and normalizing the data, New Jersey came out on top as the safest state for retirees.
That result may surprise some people. New Jersey is crowded. It’s expensive. And it’s not usually mentioned alongside traditional retirement states.
But when you zoom in, one town stands out.
According to a new GoBankingRates.com report, Mays Landing is being named the best place to retire in New Jersey.
Mays Landing is a small town in Atlantic County with a population of roughly 6,000. GoBankingRates estimates the average monthly cost of living there at $1,828. The average monthly mortgage cost is about $1,978, which is lower than the national average. The typical single-family home is priced around $332,000, a figure that looks almost modest by New Jersey standards, especially given the staggering cost of retiring in the State.
The town’s size is part of the appeal. It sits along the Great Egg Harbor River, where fishing and kayaking are part of daily life rather than special outings. Lake Lenape Park borders the area and stretches across more than 2,000 acres. Locals use it for walking, picnics, and casual recreation. Several public golf courses operate nearby.
Mays Landing is quiet, but it isn’t cut off. Atlantic City is about a half-hour drive. Philadelphia is less than an hour away. Baltimore is a little over two hours. That keeps healthcare systems, airports, and cultural amenities within reach without putting retirees in the middle of a major metro.
Downtown Mays Landing is compact and walkable. Family-owned shops and restaurants line Main Street, many inside buildings that date back generations. The town’s historic district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990 and covers more than 140 acres. More than 250 buildings within that area are considered contributing structures.
Demographics play a role, too. More than one in five residents is already 65 or older. That matters. It means services, social programming, and housing options already exist. Assisted living and retirement communities are part of the local landscape, not afterthoughts.
Not every retiree is looking for sunshine and sprawl. Many are looking for stability, safety, and a place that feels manageable.
For a growing number of people, Mays Landing checks those boxes.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.