The Great Things About The Jersey Shore

I recently did a little summer trip and headed out of state just to get away from things for a few days and I had a really great time. There isn't enough time in a Jersey Shore week to spend the appropriate time with family, so the trip was just perfect. But a few days away from the area had me appreciating our good fortune to live where we do.

Spend too much time pressure packed busy work weeks anywhere and it's just normal to want to "get away", but the fact of the matter is, if we take a minute, take a breath and look around, the world we live in is among the best places to get away around.

Now, before you roll your eyes in that Jersey Shore kind of way, let's look at the facts. at least the facts the way I see them.

Why We Never Need To Leave The Jersey Shore

So, yes it's great to get away, but it's also exceptionally great around here to stay close, and we're really lucky to have that option. Something to think about next time you're stuck in summer traffic on Ocean Ave.

More Great Getaways Without Needing To Leave The State

LOOK: Here are the 50 best beach towns in America

Every beach town has its share of pluses and minuses, which got us thinking about what makes a beach town the best one to live in. To find out, Stacker consulted data from WalletHub, released June 17, 2020, that compares U.S. beach towns. Ratings are based on six categories: affordability, weather, safety, economy, education and health, and quality of life. The cities ranged in population from 10,000 to 150,000, but they had to have at least one local beach listed on TripAdvisor. Read the full methodology here. From those rankings, we selected the top 50. Readers who live in California and Florida will be unsurprised to learn that many of towns featured here are in one of those two states.

Keep reading to see if your favorite beach town made the cut.

These are the 25 Best Places To Live in New Jersey

Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in New Jersey using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather. Cities, suburbs, and towns were included. Listings and images are from realtor.com.

On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums. Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.